Baptized – John 1:29-34 Reflection
Depending on your church, you may have a font of blessed water near where you enter, so if you want, you can bless yourself with the sign of the Cross. Visualizing that you could be at the Jorden River with John the Baptist and Jesus is something to consider. We know John as a gifted and fantastic prophet with unrivaled insights into a realization of who Jesus was to be. John seems quite humble as he gracefully bows and lets us know that he baptizes only with cleansing water. In this brief moment of blessing yourself, your thoughts can turn to Jesus approaching John with the same humility. That self-blessing as a split-second contemplation reminds us to believe we are Baptized no different than the moment with Jesus and John and the Holy Spirit. Just like with Jesus, the Spirit descends and remains in us.
Saint John the Baptist Sees Jesus from Afar by James Tissot. (full-resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Christmastide Reflections
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
John 1:29-34 – Scripture*
The Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on John 1:29-34 Reflection – Baptized with the Holy Spirit
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible John 1 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.