10 January • He must increase; I must decrease.
Welcome to "A Word of Hope" for the Saturday after Epiphany, today with Fr. Gregory Heille, OP. As the Christmas season draws to a close, preparing for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the scripture readings take a serious turn. They are anything but naive about the challenges we face in the real world.
Throughout the week, the First Letter of St. John has focused on love. However, today’s reading introduces a stark warning: "The whole world is under the power of the evil one." We are told to be on guard against idols and to use the discernment given to us by the Son of God.
In today’s reflection, we explore how to bring the light of the Incarnation into a darkened world without succumbing to its evils. We also look to John the Baptist’s profound humility in the Gospel: "He must increase; I must decrease." This is the key to authentic Christian witness as we move forward from Christmas into Ordinary Time.
Watch this video to learn how discernment and humility can protect your faith in a complex world.
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⏱️ Timeline & Key Moments
0:00 - Introduction: The End of the Christmas Season
0:28 - St. John’s Warning: The Evil One and Idols
1:10 - The Need for Spiritual Discernment
1:39 - John the Baptist’s Debate with Disciples
1:53 - The Key to Faith: "He Must Increase, I Must Decrease"
2:03 - A Sobering Word of Hope for the World
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