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reading of the first letter of St John
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dear friends who is a liar if not the
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one who denies that Jesus is the Christ
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the Antichrist is the one who denies the
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father and the son whoever denies the
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son also does not possess the father
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whoever confesses the son also possesses
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the father let that which you heard from
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the beginning remain within you if what
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you heard from the beginning remains in
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you you will remain with the son and
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with the father and this is the promise
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he made to us eternal life I write this
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about those who seek to lead you astray
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as for yourselves the anointing you
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receive from Jesus remains with you and
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you have no need for anyone to teach you
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his anointing teaches you everything and
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it is true and not a lie therefore for
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as the anointing of Jesus taught you
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remain in him so now little children
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remain in him this way we can have full
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confidence when he appears and we will
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not be shamefully removed from him when
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he comes word of the Lord thank
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God proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus
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Christ according to St John Glory To You
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Lord this was the testimony of John when
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the Jews sent priests and Levites from
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Jerusalem to ask who are you joah
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confessed and did not deny it he
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confessed I am not the Messiah they
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asked who are you then are you Elijah
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John replied I'm not they asked are you
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the prophet he replied no they then
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asked who are you after after all we
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have to bring an answer to those who
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sent us what do you say about yourself
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John declared I am the voice that cries
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in the wilderness playing The Way of the
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Lord as the prophet Isaiah said now
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those who had been sent belonged to the
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Pharisees and asked why then are you
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baptizing if you are not the Messiah nor
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Elijah nor the prophet John replied I
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baptize with water but among you is he
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whom you do not know who comes after me
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I am not worthy to untie the thong of
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his sandals this happened in Bethany
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beyond the Jordan where John was
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baptizing word of Salvation Glory To You
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Lord dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
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who are you this seemingly simple
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question has echoed Through the Ages
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since it was asked to John the Baptist
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by the priests and Levites of Jerusalem
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it is a question that invites us to
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reflect deeply on our own identity and
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Mission as followers of Christ in the
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first reading John presents us with a
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fundamental truth our Christian identity
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is intrinsically linked to the
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recognition of Jesus as the Christ who
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is the liar but he who denies that Jesus
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is the Christ John is not just making a
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theological statement he is inviting us
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to examine in the true nature of our
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faith think for a moment what does it
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mean to truly recognize Jesus as the
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Christ it is not just a matter of words
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or intellectual Ascent it is something
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that should permeate every aspect of our
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existence John tells us that whoever
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confesses the son has also the father
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this is a profound truth about
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relationship our connection with God the
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father is inseparable from our
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relationship with Jesus and then
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John offers us some precious advice as
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for you continue in what you heard from
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the beginning in a world of spiritual
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fads and Theological Novelties this
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exhortation is more relevant than ever
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the fundamental truth of the Gospel that
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Jesus is the Christ the son of God come
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in the flesh remains our unshakable
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anchor returning to the gospel we find
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John the Baptist facing an interrogation
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about his identity who are you asked the
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Jewish envoys John's response is notable
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both for what he affirms and what he
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denies he does not claim grandiose
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titles for himself I am not the Christ
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he declares I'm not Elijah I'm not the
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prophet instead John identifies with the
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words of Isaiah I Am The Voice crying in
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the wilderness make straight the way of
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the Lord what profound humility John
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does not seek to draw attention to
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himself but to direct All Eyes to Christ
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This is a powerful lesson for us today
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in a culture obsessed with
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self-promotion and building a personal
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brand xah shows us a different path he
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understands that his identity and
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purpose are completely linked to his
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mission to prepare the way for Jesus
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among you is someone you do not know
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says John to the priests and Levites
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these words still res
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today how many times is Jesus present in
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our daily lives in the poor in the
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marginalized in the suffering and we do
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not recognize him how can we open our
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eyes to see Christ in our midst John
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continues he is the one who comes after
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me but was before me I am not even
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worthy to untie the strap of his sandal
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this statement is not just about
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chronology it is about the Eternal
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nature of Christ in our own position of
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humble service before him returning to
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the first reading John reminds us that
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we have received the anointing that
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comes from him this anointing is not a
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passive privilege but an active
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responsibility it enables us to discern
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the truth and abide in Christ abide in
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him John exhorts us so that when he
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appears we may have full confidence and
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not be confounded by him at is coming
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this is a call to perseverance
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to constant Fidelity in our walk with
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Christ my dear brothers and sisters
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today we are called to reflect on our
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own identity in Christ like John the
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Baptist we are called to be voices
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crying in the wilderness of our world
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preparing the way for the Lord this
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means living in such a way that our
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lives point to Christ not ourselves we
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are called to recognize and confess
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Jesus as the Christ not just with our
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words but with our entire lives we are
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called to stand in the truth we have
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received standing firm in our faith
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amidst the storms of life and most of
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all we are called to be attentive to the
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presence of Christ in our midst in the
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sacraments in the word in our community
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and especially in the faces of those we
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encounter on our daily Journey May the
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Holy Spirit help us to live this
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vocation with Fidelity and joy may we
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like John the Baptist decrease so that
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Christ can increase in our lives and
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that when Christ appears we can stand
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before him with confidence knowing that
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we remain faithful to the truth of his
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amen St Michael the Archangel defend Us
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in battle be our protection against the
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wickedness and snares of the devil may
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God rebuke him we humble pray and do
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thou o Prince of the Heavenly Host by
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the power of God cast into hell Satan
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and all the evil spirits who prowl
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throughout the world seeking the ruin of
