Issue 31 January 2026

Gospel

John the Baptist exalts Christ

John 3:22–36

This week's Gospel finds Christ and His disciples baptising in Judea, while John is baptising at Aenon near Salim. John's disciples come to him troubled: the One John testified about is baptising too, "and all are coming to Him!"

John is not troubled at all. "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven," he says. He is only the friend of the bridegroom, who rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice: "Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."

Read the whole passage at home this week: John 3:22–36.

From the pulpit

Greatness in humility

Fr Mark

I watched the Australian Open with my family at home, watching a well-known tennis player beat his opponent in three straight sets. At the end of the match, after witnessing this incredible performance, the comment from my family was, "He's so arrogant. He's so arrogant."

There were a few moments throughout the game where the player showed anger and frustration, particularly in the way he reacted and celebrated. And the feeling everyone walked away with was arrogance. There were no comments about the greatness of the performance. It was as though it was lost in that feeling.

We, as humans, are very sensitive to arrogance. And God is the same.

No one greater

When speaking about John the Baptist, our Lord said that there is no greater person than John the Baptist. He gave him the greatest compliment that could ever be given to a human by God: there is no one greater than John the Baptist.

If you look at John the Baptist, so much glory surrounds him now. He was an ascetic, wandering the desert, eating locusts and wild honey. He preached powerfully, calling all people to repentance.

So what was it about John the Baptist that made our Lord say, "There is no one greater"? What virtue did he possess?

We know that John the Baptist is honoured not just by Christ, but also in the Church. In our iconography, he is placed in the most prominent position after our Lord Jesus Christ and our Holy Mother Mary. In the Synaxarium of the saints, when we pray, he is mentioned straight after the Virgin Mary.

All this greatness, all this honour, all this esteem, comes down to one particular virtue that our Lord deeply admires. That virtue is humility. We, as humans, love humble people. And God is the same.

We often think that other things make us great: our successes, our performances, our abilities, our work, our studies, our careers, our networks. But these are not what make us great in the eyes of God. What makes us great in the eyes of God is our humility. That is the true mark of greatness.

John's brand of humility

John the Baptist gives us a clear insight into his humility: his particular brand of humility. Each of us has a brand of humility, and John had his own.

He lived simply. He wore rough clothing. He ate simply. But when questioned, John made statements that reveal the depth of his humility. He said, "A man receives nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." That is his brand of humility. He believed that everything he had, and everything he was, came from God.

And if you truly believe that everything you have (your abilities, your resources, your talents) has been given to you by God, then you will be compelled to use them for God. Not for your own increase.

John continues and says, "He must increase, and I must decrease."

When you believe that everything you are and everything you have (your possessions, your money, your mind, your family, your home) comes from God, you become compelled to use all of it for His increase, not your own.

That is John the Baptist's brand of humility. A man receives nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. He must increase, and I must decrease.

What is my brand of humility?

I want to encourage all of us to reflect on our own lives and ask: what is my brand of humility? It may not look like John the Baptist's, but each of us has one.

One of our deacons is a doctor, and he delivered all four of my children, and did a good job as well. I've watched him in action in the hospital. The nurses prepare everything, the room is ready, and everyone is waiting for the doctor to arrive. Then he walks in casually, and suddenly everyone springs into action. One brings the scrubs, another the instruments. He stands there calmly and says, "Scissors," and they run to get them. He finishes his work, walks out, and everyone else cleans up. What a boss.

But then I watch him in church. He becomes the assistant. The helper. The servant. Can I help you? Do you need this? May I serve here?

This is a brand of humility. It's a way of bringing ourselves back down to earth. We find a space where we practise humility.

One of the best places to refine humility is in the home: in the family. When I put my spouse before myself. When I put my children before myself. When I sacrifice my comfort for their happiness. This is a brand of humility.

Different people have different brands.

Thirty pairs of socks

One time, I discovered a simple idea that I want to share with you. My wife always complained about my socks: too many different kinds, too many pairs to match. It took too long to fold and pair them all.

So I had an idea. I threw out all my socks and bought one kind. Thirty identical pairs. Any two socks would always match. It changed our lives.

When I was in Egypt, I bought thirty pairs of the same socks. And I thought, I'll do the same for my dad. My mum always complained about his socks too. I told my dad my plan, and he said, "Don't buy me new ones. Just give me your old ones." That's a brand of humility. I don't need new things. I don't always have to have the best. I can take what's left over.

Find your brand of humility. Everything is lost in arrogance. Everything is lost in pride. Humility changes how others receive us. It allows goodness to be seen. It allows God to be revealed.

Humility shines in the home. It shines in quiet service. It shines when no one is watching. And most importantly, it shines in the eyes of God.

John the Baptist knew, "A man receives nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. He must increase, and I must decrease." That is the path that leads not to our glory but to God's.

Parish life

Kids Liturgy

Some information about our dedicated children's Liturgy:

• It is for kindergarten to year 6 only.
• The Liturgy is dedicated to children only; no parents are to attend.
• It starts at 8:45am.
• Children need to come in before 9:15am to benefit from the Liturgy; the doors close at 9:15.
• Children leave their shoes outside the door.
• Please take your children to the toilet before they join the Liturgy.
• Children will be encouraged to take part in the readings of the Liturgy.
• Please encourage your children to attend, and reinforce the expectation of quietness, order and reverence.

Please pray for the children's Liturgy, that it may be a source of spiritual nourishment for our kids, and that they may learn about and experience the sanctity and holiness of the Liturgy.

Parish life

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