The Spotting Mission

January 4, Wednesday of the Christmas Week
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious
Daily readings: 1st John 3: 7-10; Gospel: John 1: 35-42

As he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" V.35

Prior to the appearance of Jesus, John was at the peak of human popularity and glory, and people from all over Judea and Jerusalem came to be baptized by him. His words and witnessing deeds were so powerful to the point that people started thinking of John as the Messiah, and many became his disciples.

Andrew and the other disciple were first John's followers. Over time, though, John led them to Jesus by calling him the "Lamb of God." John slowly moves away from the scene,  calling the attention of his disciples to focus on Jesus.

John is performing the function of a spotlight. A spotlight calls the attention of viewers to a particular object or person in a stage program. In fact, John is on a spotting mission.

It has become quite common for some evangelists and preachers to draw listeners' attention away from Jesus, our Lord, and toward themselves. This kind of self-glorification can be seen as a form of self-worship and thus as a form of idolatry.

When you do good works on behalf of God or the church, it is natural that people keep their focus on you. In such situations, John the Baptist,  who directed the attention of people to Jesus becomes a great model of the mission of a disciple of Jesus. A true disciple’s mission is to direct others to Jesus who is the Lord. Amen.