Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of the 1st Week after the Epiphany: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 5 and 6; Evening, Psalms 10 and 11;
Genesis 3:1 to 24; Hebrews 2:1 to 10; John 1:19 to 28:
“John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know.” (John 1: 26)
We don’t always know who is in our midst. I wonder if John made eye contact with Jesus as he said the words “Among you stands one whom you do not know.” John knew Jesus, it is said that they were cousins. I ponder if Mary and Elizabeth were sisters?
Knowing someone is more than just knowing who their relatives are, their parents, siblings and so forth. Knowing a person implies, at some level you know what they like and dislike, what they value and their preferences of foods, music, habits and hobbies. In the case of our Lord Jesus, it also means you know He is God Incarnate. No one around John knew that about our Lord Jesus except for Cousin John.
I have been around some of my friends for a very long time only to find out that when a certain topic came up, they surprised me with how they acted. Then I realized that I didn’t really know them at all. So when John says “Among you stands one whom you do not know,” he’s right. But let’s not confuse knowing a person with knowing “of” a person.
Sometimes it’s good to know something about a person in order to know how close you want to be with them. The more similar attitudes you both have about various subjects the closer you become. But even with this, I like to be close with people who differ with me in some areas. I always want to hear an opposing view point. It keeps me honest. It may even cause me to shift in my pondering as I hear what the Spirit is saying to me through someone with a different perspective. We don’t mature if we stay stagnated with people of the same mind. We must listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us, through us, and through others. The Late Colon Powell, former Secretary of State said, if two of you are of the same mind, one of you is redundant.
We also might get from John’s words for us today that when we are in a large group, there may be a person or two in our midst who are directly from the court of heaven! Those we don’t know could be from anywhere. We never know who, or when, God might have angels among us whom we can actually see if we take the time. Interaction with the Presence of God baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.
Today we remember Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor (January 13, 367) and his information may be found at: Hilary of Poitiers
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (BCP p. 815)
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
onewhoponders 