Daily Reflection – 12/11/2025
Sacred Scripture
Jesus said to the crowds: “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matthew 11:11-15)
Reflection
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). With these words, Jesus Christ bestows upon John the Baptist the highest compliment imaginable: recognition from the Supreme Himself. What was it about John that drew such praise? It was not wealth, power, or prestige. Rather, it was John’s radical humility and unwavering devotion to pointing others toward Christ. His greatness lay in his refusal to make the mission about himself. He lived and preached with the singular purpose of preparing hearts for the One who was greater.
John’s ministry was marked by self‑effacement. He reminded his listeners again and again that he was not the Messiah, but only the voice crying out in the wilderness. His role was to prepare the way, to clear the path, to awaken people to the coming of Christ. In this, John models for us the essence of discipleship: to recognize that our lives are not about our own glory but about participating in God’s greater mission. His greatness was not in what he accomplished for himself but in how faithfully he yielded to God’s plan.
Jesus Himself defines that mission in Luke 4:18–19, echoing Isaiah: to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, release to prisoners, and announce a year of favor from the Lord. This is the heart of Christ’s ministry, and John’s greatness was in preparing others to embrace it. To follow Christ is to accept that we are part of something larger than ourselves, a mission that connects our thoughts, actions, and lives to one another in profound ways.
Yet this vision is not easy to accept. It stretches us beyond the comfort of our own families and dreams. Jesus calls us to enlarge our vision—to see the families of the poor as our own, to identify with the dreams of prisoners, to stand with those held captive by hate and prejudice. To live this way requires courage: courage to confront the causes of poverty, courage to enter into the painful debates about racism, courage to open our hearts to immigrants rather than exclude them. It requires us to recognize that the joys of another are our joys, and the pain of another is our pain. To be connected to the Greater means being connected to the smallest among us.
This reflection forces us to ask: which kingdom do we belong to? The kingdom of the secular world, with its emphasis on self‑interest and division? Or the kingdom of God, which calls us to interconnectedness, humility, and love? If we choose the latter, then we must act as if we truly believe it. That means sublimating our ego, yielding to God’s will, and allowing Him to direct our path. John the Baptist’s greatness was precisely this: he got out of the way so that Christ could be revealed.
When we open ourselves to God’s will, even the simplest actions of our lives take on deeper meaning. A word of kindness, a gesture of compassion, a stand for justice—all become part of God’s plan to love and serve the world. This is the life worth living: a life not centered on self but on Christ, a life that participates in the mission of healing, liberation, and love. Like John, we are called to prepare the way, to point beyond ourselves, and to live as witnesses to the kingdom of God.
Prayer of The Day
“Lord, today by your grace I will strive to hear what you are inspiring in my life, and give you the freedom and the space to act beyond my expectations: I surrender to you. Take care of everything. “
Daily Note
Richard Rohr once said: “If it is true that our relationship to God in heaven is not about us, it is also true that our relationship to God on earth is not about us. When I say that it is not about us, I am not saying that we are inconsequential or worthless. God has given us real talents and abilities and expects us to use them. God has made us sons and daughters and given us great value. But when I say that our relationship to God is not about us, I am saying that God’s role and God’s action are primary. We play a supporting role. It is not about our plans. It is about God’s plan. It is not about our power. It is about God’s power. It is not about our glory. It is about God’s glory.
