Meditation Questions Below.
Letter of St Paul: Hebrews 8:1-9:10
GOSPEL: John 3:22-4:3New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
Jesus and John the Baptist
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized 24 —John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew.[a] 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,[b] but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[c]
The One Who Comes from Heaven
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified[d] this, that God is true. 34 He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
Jesus and the Woman of Samaria
4 Now when Jesus[e] learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John” 2 —although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized— 3 he left Judea and started back to Galilee.
Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary, and help me to fix my eyes on Your kingdom.
- Why does John use the image of marriage and the wedding feast to describe the Messiah?
- Do you look with joyful anticipation to the consummation of God’s plan for his people at the end of the ages?
- What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
- God’s truth has consequences and he gives us the freedom to choose how we will respond. Do you weigh the consequences of your choices? Where do they lead you?
- Do you allow any barriers to distance yourself from the Lord and his will for your life?
“Lord Jesus Christ, let your Holy Spirit fill me and transform my heart and mind that I may choose life in You, with You and for You .”