HOW GREAT THOU ART!

1st READING - Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8

P S A L M - Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 7-8

G O S P E L - John 5:33-36

SABBATH

When the Pope goes around Rome or visits neighboring cities in Italy, a Swiss guard drives him in a papal car with a special plate and a Vatican state flag. Here’s a fictional story about Pope Benedict XIV. One day, he decided to sneak into the papal car and drive it himself. Excited, he stepped on the gas pedal and cruised at a very high speed. An Italian police flagged him down and when the Pope rolled down the window, the police immediately called his superior. “Give him a ticket. I don’t care who it is. The law is the law,” the superior said. “Sir, we have a situation here. I caught someone over-speeding, but I think he’s more than a VIP.” “Why, is it the President of Italy?” the officer dared. “No, I think it’s God,” the officer countered, “because his driver is the Pope.” If you are human, there will be someone higher than you. Yesterday, Jesus gave John the greatest tribute ever given to man. But even with the highest of compliment, John is still a man and someone is higher than him — Jesus. Today, Jesus puts things in perspective. Still speaking of the witness of John, Jesus paints him as the light that illumines the people who are in darkness. But John is described by Jesus in the Gospel only as a lamp. A lamp by itself is useless. It needs a flame to set it burning. By saying that “I have a testimony greater than John,” Jesus sets Himself as the flame that sets the lamp burning. Jesus is greater than John, and John knows this. Of Jesus, John can only say, “Someone greater than me is coming. I am not even worthy to untie the strap of his sandals.” Every Christian is called to be a lamp that lights. Just like John the Baptist, we are called to be light — not a spotlight but a flashlight. Spotlights call attention to the individual. Flashlights are always pointed away, illuminating the way for others. Yes, God wants us to flourish and to shine, and we are to shine not like spotlights but flashlights. Let us call attention, not to ourselves but to Christ and His message of love. Fr. Joel O. Jason   Reflection Question: In what areas of your life is self-glorification a very strong temptation? Do you have what they call “diva” moments?   “Lord what is man that you care for him? Mortal man that you keep him in mind? Man who is merely a breath, whose life fades like a passing shadow?”   Blessed Raynald de Bar, pray for us.