This particular Gospel (Jn 1: 29-34) makes me think about the wonder and power of an encounter with the Living God, especially when it is so tangible or physical:

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because He existed before me.’ I did not know Him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that He might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon Him. I did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, He is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God.”

The Baptist must have said these last words in such a state of joy. He certainly appreciated and needed a moment like this, after waiting and working for so long. All of us do. We who feel compelled to tell the world that God is real, loving, and present, need always to return to the source of this Light in order to find the strength to persist in what often seems like a hopeless task.

This passage makes me think of the blessed power of the Eucharist. Here we come as close as possible to the experience of the Baptist when he “saw Jesus coming up to him.” Through the light of God’s given faith we “see” the Holy Spirit of God hovering over our Beloved Jesus, when the priest prays: “ May this same Holy Spirit graciously sanctify these offerings that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
This incredible infusion of grace can go a long way in enabling us to live the Christian example to the world, even as we endure so many challenges and sorrows that come our way.

One important lesson that we could learn is to approach all of this with humility. We will not save the world. It is too big a task. Perhaps a little contribution to Love is all we can give. I look at all the divine examples in this Gospel. Our Omnipotent Lord is compared to a lamb, a Suffering Servant coming as a sheep to the shearers. The Giver of Life, the Spirit of God, manifests Himself, not as a powerful Roman eagle, but as a gentle dove, like the doves that were the most that the poor could afford as sacrifices for the temple. This is the God of the impoverished and the powerless. In the Eucharist the Powerful One comes to us as a humble, little, thin wafer, tp give us the strength to do the little things that together add up to the salvation of the world.
Just in case anyone reading this has not been to Mass in a while, come join us at the humble feast, even if the church is half-empty. Rather than just seeing, you might get the chance to behold. You just might be surprised to find our Savior, Jesus, walking right up to you! That’s what happened to me.

Orlando Hernandez