2 January

What sort of behaviour or attitude do we have when it comes to preaching the Good News? Some of us may think that we are doing really well in our ministry and that our ways or methods should be adopted by others. Some may feel proud or conceited about themselves, since they appear to have produced much fruit in ministry. But what sort of attitude or behaviour should a Christian have towards preaching the Good News?

In today's Gospel, John the Baptist shows us a good example of what being a disciple is all about. When questioned whether he was the Christ or Elijah, he replied that he was not. Instead, he said: "I am, as Isaiah prophesied: a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord." Moreover, John knew his place and was humble enough to acknowledge that he was merely a servant and not the master. He tells us: "I baptise with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you – the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap."

Being a disciple of Christ means that we are carrying out His command in preaching the Good News to all nations. It means that we are servants and are merely doing our duty. We are doing this not for our personal gratification or to show how capable we are, but for the greater glory of God. May we remain with the Lord and be willing and humble to let Him use us as His instruments.

2 January

Most of us would have been taught about the faith as children or as adults, depending on whether we were baptised as infants or as adults. However, regardless of when and how we were taught, we are reminded in today's reading to "Keep alive in yourselves what you were taught in the beginning: as long as what you were taught in the beginning is alive in you, you will live in the Son and in the Father; and what is promised to you by his own promise is eternal life."

As we go on in life, we may face various challenges, persecution, temptation, etc. However, we should make every effort to remain faithful to Christ and to God. As the reading also reminds us: "You are anointed with truth, not with a lie, and as it has taught you, so you must stay in him. Live in Christ, then, my children, so that if he appears, we may have full confidence, and not turn from him in shame at his coming." Have we been taking heed to these words and remain in Christ, come what may? It may not be an easy task, but let us persevere and trust in God, knowing that God will care for us and not abandon us.