The gospel reading today is filled with so much meaning, it has probably been food for thought for many theologians throughout the ages. Those of us who do not think that deeply can also understand it on many levels too though. The Holy Spirit is so profoundly present in the words that John the Baptist spoke. His words come alive. They are living words:
“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
An entire book could be written about this one sentence alone. John the Baptist’s words shine with reverence and love for the Lord Jesus. His spirit connected with Christ’s. It was destined to be so. Jesus had a deeply personal bond with John the Baptist too, because he retreated to a desert place to be alone after he was beheaded in prison. He sought solace in the desert after his death.
It is awesome how John acknowledges Christ’s divinity though, when he says that:
“A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.”
John the Baptist’s physical body in Elizabeth’s womb existed before Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He understood that Jesus is part of the Trinity because he lived before him, and John the Baptist wasn’t talking about his physical body.
The thing that is so profoundly awesome and beautiful is the love and reverence that John the Baptist had for Christ, and also the deep personal bond that he had with God. God revealed things about his son to John that no human person could have ever known on their own. John said:
“I did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John the Baptist was a person who lived almost entirely in the Spirit. The solitude and prayer life that he had in the desert kept the fire of the Spirit burning brightly in his soul. When he baptized Christ, he saw the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descend on him from heaven and remain on him. The bible doesn’t say this, but there is a pretty good chance no one else present that day saw this too.
God reveals things in silence to a person in a state of grace, according to His divine will. John the Baptist said that he did not know him, but the one who sent him to baptize with water told him, “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”
This entire encounter between Jesus and John the Baptist seems almost encased in a cocoon of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes when we experience an important, life changing event, it can seem almost like time stands still and every nuance of the moment is etched forever in our minds. Christ’s baptism was a hugely important event, not only for himself and all of mankind, but also for John the Baptist and for God Himself as well. The level they experienced this event on is something we can’t even begin to imagine and words surely can not do justice to this beautiful, Spirit filled moment.
Every word, every nuance of the gospel reading today is profoundly permeated with the Holy Spirit itself and are living words. Love is eternal. It never dies. The flame of the Holy Spirit has never gone out of these words and they will never do so for all of eternity.
Today has an optional memorial for the readings for mass, “The Most Holy Name of Jesus”. John the Baptist understood the Holy Name of Jesus most beautifully and perfectly, when he called him, “The Lamb of God”. Worthy is the Lamb of God. May we never take for granted this precious treasure that we encounter in the Eucharist each week at mass.
