Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1,19-28
This is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted,
“I am not the Christ.”
So they asked him,
“What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
And he said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
So they said to him,
“Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?”
He said:
“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
“Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?”
John answered them,
“I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
where John was baptizing.
Your mission starts from your identity
1. Witness. One isn’t a marketing agent of life, but rather a witness because one can give proof of what it means to live fully. Today I want to talk to you who may not know where to go or may even be angry with God about everything that is happening to you. I don’t know how many things are going through your mind, but I do know that your life is worth living. I get it when you want to give up because no one understands you or because you are tired of the obstacles that are put in your way. But I know that you will get through this and that you have a lot to achieve in this life. Be a witness and learn to live with the experiences you’ve gone through.
2. I am not. People will always want to define you: whether you are right-wing or left-wing, whether you are liberal or conservative, whether you are a practicing Catholic or a believer, but not a committed one, and so on. When people try to define you, they’re even capable of putting weight and pressure on you, so that you will be what they want you to be. But this gospel makes it clear that you are you, and you must be what you are called to be, and not what others want you to be. Learn to live life according to your identity and don’t give way to other people’s wishes. Don’t let others impose something you aren’t and make your life something you don’t plan to be. But be careful because in order to look good, sometimes you end up giving in, and destroying your identity and therefore your mission.
3. Baptize. When you are clear about your mission and your identity, you not only do good to others, but you can also help to change lives. On social networks, I see many young people who, even without being Catholic or belonging to any other religion, have an incredible ability to change lives and help people, not through marketing, but from the goodness of their heart. So, keep on changing lives and helping to make the lives of others more beautiful. You have a lot to give. Give yourself the opportunity to make your life and the lives of those around you a more beautiful life.
Never forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
