My Joy Has Been Fulfilled

After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized— John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. 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.’ John answered, ‘No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, “I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.” 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. He must increase, but I must decrease.’ 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. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath. John 3:22-36

We find John's disciples confused about roles in this passage from John's Gospel. In truth, we are often overwhelmed and confused by roles. They believed that Jesus was usurping John's importance, while John had understood all along that he roles was to proclaim the Messiah. We humans spend way too much time scrambling for importance and attention while losing our joy. John knew what he had to do and delighted in the fact that he had done what God had asked him to do. May we all remember that we have a role to play in spreading God's love across our communities. 

Gracious Creator, source of all life

you have given us the Messiah's joy

you have called us all to follow you

and you have blessed us every day.

Too often we want what is not ours

we are jealous of others attention 

we ache for a role in the spotlight

and forget we are in your heart always.

Let us be joyful in your blessings

loving because we are fully loved

kind because you forgive us all

and joyful in the roles we have been given. Amen.