“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
8th January 2022
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SATURDAY, OCTAVE OF EPIPHANY
1 Jn 5: 14-21; Ps 149: 1-6, 9; Jn 3: 22-30
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A HUMBLE HEART GETS GOD'S ATTENTION
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” These powerful and prophetic words of St John the Baptist which we hear today should echo in our hearts every day. They help set the tone for all that we are and who we must become. In today’s world, we have become too individualistic - it is always “I”, “me” and “myself”. We are fashioned into thinking and living only for ourselves. In this light, today’s reading draws our attention to the responsibility of allowing Jesus to increase in our lives. This is our primary mission. What does this mean?
• It means allowing Jesus to take greater possession of our mind, our heart and our will.
• It means fulfiling his holy will in all things our most intense desire.
• It means casting out fear and making charity our raison d'être, our motivation for living.
• Ultimately, it means possessing him and allowing him to possess us.
Allowing the Lord to increase in our lives liberates and does not bind us. It is liberating in the sense that we no longer have to try to manage on our own in an individualistic world. Jesus now lives with, in and through us. Secondly, when John says that he must decrease, it means that our desires and ambitions must soften as Jesus takes over. It means that all selfishness must be abandoned and selfless living must be the founding principle of our lives. To ‘decrease’ before God means becoming humble before him. St Teresa of Avila says that humility is the queen of all virtues. She also writes that to be humble is to walk in truth. For, humility is becoming aware of and accepting the truth of who we truly are. It is a sure way to sanctity.
Reflect today, upon this beautiful statement of St John the Baptist. Make it a prayer that you constantly resound in your heart. Let it become the guiding principle of your life.
Response: The Lord takes delight in his people.
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