Pastor's Note from Fr. Szparagowski 📝 - [Jan 18th Bulletin]

Dear St. Philip Neri Friends and Family,

We give praise and thanks to God for the graces and blessings He has given us! In today's Gospel, John the Baptist does something very important—and very humble. He points away from himself and toward Jesus. When he sees Jesus coming toward him, he proclaims, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John's mission is not to draw attention to himself, but to reveal Christ. John is not presenting a theory or an idea. He is pointing to a person. "This is the one." And that is the heart of Christian discipleship: to recognize Jesus and to point Him out to others.

What is striking is John's honesty. He says, "I did not know him." This may surprise us. John and Jesus are relatives. John has been preparing the way for the Messiah. And yet he admits that he did not fully recognize Jesus at first. It was only when the Spirit descended upon Him that John understood who Jesus truly was.

This is an important truth for us. There are moments in our own lives when we do not recognize Jesus at work. There are times when God seems silent, distant, or hidden. But just because we do not recognize Him does not mean He is absent. Jesus is still with us—guiding us, protecting us, walking beside us—even when we fail to see Him clearly.

Isaiah speaks to this in the first reading. The servant of the Lord is called not only to gather Israel but to be "a light to the nations." God's work is often greater than we imagine, and His presence extends beyond what we can immediately perceive. Even when the servant feels small or uncertain, God is still accomplishing His saving plan.

John the Baptist reminds us that recognizing Jesus is not something we do alone. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. And once John recognizes Him, he testifies. "Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God." John does not keep this revelation to himself. He speaks it aloud so others may come to believe.

That is our calling as well. We are asked to point out Jesus—to our children, our families, our friends, and our world. We do this not only with words, but with the way we live: through compassion, forgiveness, patience, and faithfulness. Every act of love becomes a way of saying, "Behold the Lamb of God."

Testifying to Jesus does not mean having all the answers. John himself grew into understanding. What it means is being willing to say, "This is where I have seen God at work in my life." Even in our doubts, even in our struggles, we can witness to a God who is faithful.

Today, let us ask for the grace to recognize Jesus more clearly in our lives, especially when He comes in unexpected ways. And like John the Baptist, may we have the humility and courage to point beyond ourselves and testify: He is here. He is with us. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Please invite someone to Mass today.

St. Philip Neri, pray for us.

Fr. Szparagowski