Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jn 1:29-34
January 15, 2023

Last fall I was invited to join a group of college friends for a “Big Chill” weekend up north. I hadn’t seen several of these folks in over 50 years. Half a century does a lot to change a person’s appearance. So, I was a little nervous that I would not be able to recognize everyone. In fact, that was not a problem in the least.

I have to admit, at first sighting, my reaction was “Wow! Did he age.” Or, “She certainly looks older.” I have no doubt that my friends all thought the same about me as I hobbled out of the car on my cane. But in spite of the ravages of time, I had no problem in recognizing each of my friends. Whether it was their tone of voice, or the color of their eyes, or the sound of their laughter…or some unique mannerism…time had not concealed their identity. Friendship is stronger than time.

The beginning of the friendship between John the Baptist and his cousin Jesus of Nazareth is described at Luke 1. Neither had yet to be born. But the mere proximity to Mary, pregnant with God’s Eternal Word made Flesh, caused John to react with excitement and joy, within his own mother’s womb. Without even seeing Him, there was a recognition that triggered a dramatic response.

All four Evangelists report on The Baptism of the Lord. The Gospels do not tell us, however, whether or not there was any interaction between Jesus and John during the “in between” years.

Like all Israel, The Baptist was awaiting the appearance of The Messiah. Still, a prayerful reading and reflection of each version leaves one with the impression that John was taken by surprise when Jesus at last appeared.

One might safely assume that the feelings of excitement and joy which overwhelmed him while still unborn were again aroused within John as Jesus approached. What we are left to wonder at, is whether John was able to actually identify the person Who triggered this visceral reaction within him. Consider how, twice, within today’s rather brief passage, John is quoted as saying: I DID NOT KNOW HIM.

Some 30 years had passed since the visit of their pregnant mothers. Obviously, time had made enormous changes in both during those unreported years. If, as some Scripture scholars suggest, they had not seen each other during the “in between” years, it is certainly reasonable to assume that John did not immediately “know” the person of Jesus. Nevertheless, he definitely recognized the powerful feelings welling up within him as The Lord approached. Those feelings prompted John to introduce Jesus as The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.

Time might well have changed their physical bodies, but their spirits were the same. “The Real Presence” of THE HOLY SPIRIT, perfectly embodied within Jesus from the moment of His conception, was instantly identified by John. THE HOLY SPIRIT is infinitely stronger than time. THE HOLY SPIRIT is eternal.

The very same HOLY SPIRIT reunites us with JESUS CHRIST each time we fully, actively and consciously participate in The Eucharist. The powerful feeling that is ignited within us as we approach The Communion Table is very much like John the Baptist’s reaction to the approach of Jesus.

And after our “reunion” with CHRIST through the Sacrament, we are sent forth…back into our day to day lives. Our faith strengthened by THE HOLY SPIRIT, everyone we encounter…regardless of how much time has passed between meetings…should be able to recognize us as disciples of THE LAMB OF GOD WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

Time cannot change the appearance of a faithful disciple…because friendship in Christ is eternal.