I am not the Christ - 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B

Audio Divina

English - December 12, 2023 23:00 - 14 minutes - 19.6 MB
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Previous Episode: The Witness of John the Baptist - 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B

Next Episode: Accepting the Word of God - 4th Sunday of Advent, Year B

I am not the Christ:

The Roman liturgy devotes two Sundays to the figure of John the Baptist to help us prepare for Christmas. In the Gospel of John he is presented as being "sent by God", the only character in the Gospel who has this status and thus renders authentic witness to Jesus.

He does it negatively, by refusing to accept the messianic roles that the leaders of Israel would like to pin on him: the Christ, Elijah, the Prophet.

He insists: "I am not"! In this way he prepares for someone who will repeatedly insists: "I am he"! He points beyond himself to someone who cannot be understood in traditional messianic categories.

No matter how important the Baptist might be, the one who is to come outstrips anything he may represent. The mystery of God among us has been announced.

Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audio Divina, is a Lectio-Divina styled reflection on the gospel for 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B.

Gospel Reading: John 1: 6-8, 19-28

Gospel read by Lauren and Tony

Narrated and produced by Michael Gartland

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