YEAR C: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF CHRISTMAS WEEKDAY
HOMILY THEME: HUMBLE IDENTITY
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
HOMILY: (Jn. 1:19-28) Wednesday, January 2, 2019
In today’s Gospel John was being questioned of his identity. With everything he was doing, he was mistaken to be the prophet, Elijah, or the Messiah, the one who is to come. But John would not be tempted to seize the limelight. He stuck to his calling and mission. He was the voice crying in the wilderness. He was to prepare the way of the Lord. He was even not worthy of tying the straps of His sandals.
Tying another person’s sandals is a very humbling experience. It is usually only done by slaves. For John to say of himself as being unworthy to do that for Jesus, the Messiah, is a statement not of his lowliness but Jesus’ Messiah status. Because of what he had shown before the people and the pharisees, they were willing to accept him as an extraordinary man like Elijah, the prophet, and the Messiah. John took the opportunity to reveal Jesus, specially His being the Messiah. He chose to praise and elevate Jesus than himself.
It is humility at its best. Knowing one’s place in a situation or an institution is always apt and necessary. Before the Lord, we must know our place. God is Creator and we are His creatures. He provides while we receive. He saves and we are the sinners. As long as we play the role we ate given, our world will be in order.
Let us avoid the pitfall of playing god before God. We are limited and our knowledge, no matter how great, will always be wanting. Ever heard of God’s will? It is God’s way which will benefit us most. Mother knows best but God is much much better than mothers. John knew it. Hopefully, we will also know and accept it.
