RBWords

     John the Baptist not only announces the coming of Jesus, he also introduces a major "theme" of the Gospel of John:  seeing and testifying!  This "theme" could serve as a fruitful way of reading this entire gospel, especially in each of the scenes where Jesus dialogues with various characters, from John the Baptist at the baptism of Jesus to Thomas the apostle in the dramatic post-resurrection encounter in the Upper Room.  The notion of "seeing" is closely connected with "believing."  However, the physical sense of the word will yield to the "spiritual" sense at the end of the gospel when Jesus says to Thomas:  "Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." [John 20:28]

     By the time the Gospel of John was composed, most of those who knew Jesus during his life were deceased.  It would be the "eyes of faith" that would "see and testify" about Jesus as the Son of God.  The testimony of "eye witnesses" would give sight to the "eyes of faith" so that the proclamation of the gospel could continue.  The same Holy Spirit that John the Baptist witnessed to in today's gospel passage gives that "sight" through the testimony of faithful witnesses.  We may be already wondering why we made such and such a resolution on New Year's day, but our faith must be a continuing resolution that requires a daily renewal.  We can "put skin on" what we believe and thus open the eyes of faith for those who want to truly see.   AMEN