Readings
I - 1Jn. 5: 4-21
II - Jn. 3: 22-30
HE MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE
John the Baptist’s disciples and a Jew went to John the Baptist and complained about Jesus: the one who was with him, whom John the Baptist baptised and testified to him was baptizing and that the people were all flocking to him. The natural feeling to this complaint, humanly speaking could probably be jealousy, hatred and repugnance. But John the Baptist highlighted Jesus with the metaphor that the friend of the bridegroom rejoices at the coming of the bridegroom describing himself as the friend of the bridegroom and said the famous statement: “He must increase, but I must decrease”. An attitude of humility, meekness, acceptance of the reality and the clarity of his mission as the forerunner of Christ.
The knowledge of oneself suppresses the domination of ego and helps to acknowledge and accept the reality. This will also broaden our mind and heart, making us magnanimous in recognising, accepting, encouraging and appreciating others as they are without any prejudice, grudge, hatred and suspicion. We are children of God and can never be rivals to one another. May this Gospel reading of the day enlighten us and enlarge our horizon to imbibe the attitude of John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease”. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, bless us with the attitude of John the Baptist, ‘He must increase, but I must decrease'”.
