Wednesday Gospel Webinar Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Sunday 15th January 2017 2nd Sunday OT year A John 1:29-34 Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “the man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’

Literal meaning Where? Bethany, far side of the Jordan When? ‘The next day’: during the ministry of John What? The witness of John the Baptist Who? John, Jesus, crowd of people How? John sees Jesus and declares him to be the Lamb of God Why? The Word is revealed, John’s mission is fulfilled

John the Baptist Sees Jesus Spoke of his mission in the past Speaks now as a witness Did not know Jesus (x 2) has now fulfilled his mission: to reveal the Chosen One of God

Jesus Lamb of God Is after, before and greater than John (x2) Revealed by the Father through the sign of the Holy Spirit (x2)

Finding God Lamb of God: Jesus Eternal (before John): Born of the Father before all ages The Highest (greater than John): God from God Comes in time (after John): Incarnation Announced and revealed by the Father (the one who sent John) and the Holy Spirit: God makes himself known as Trinity.

Finding the human person Facing Mystery (I did not know him) Receiving Revelation (It was to reveal him… / I am the witness that he is…) Responding in Faith (Seeing Jesus / I have seen…)

Finding the Church “Behold, the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world” Role of human witness and transmission: John is a figure of the Church The one who baptises with the Holy Spirit

Mary, Virgin and Mother, you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the word of life in the depths of your humble faith: as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own “yes” to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.   Mother of the living Gospel, wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia!

Acknowledgments Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti www.centroaletti.com Scripture: The CTS New Catholic Bible, Copyright © 2007 The Incorporated Catholic Truth Society With gratitude to the Wednesday Word www.wednesdayword.org