John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one of whom I said, ´A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.´ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel." John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven, and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ´On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.´ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God."

Introductory Prayer: I believe in you Lord, the Son of God, my Creator and Redeemer. I trust that your grace will fill my heart with a desire to proclaim your truth surpassing all my fears. I want to love you by placing my will at your service in this meditation and testifying more faithfully with my life to all you are. Be the strength of my heart.
 
Petition: Help me make you known, Lord!

1. The Lamb Takes Priority. John the Baptist is the evangelizer par excellence. He gives testimony with his word and life to Christ. He witnesses to Jesus' true identity. His first testimony is that he ranks ahead of me. How hard it is for us to put God first! Our desires and ideas, the wishes and opinions of others so much compete with the priority that is God alone. Even my time seems more dedicated to self and things of the world. I must begin to submit all I do to his holy will.

2. That He Might Be Made Known. The next message of John's testimony touches on the urgent task of making Jesus known. We live in an age of media, images and communication. Yet, we are constantly reminded that it's not correct to impose our beliefs or values. Everything else is legitimate when it comes to imposing. Yet the Church never imposes, she just proposes. To propose is to make known, to speak freely, to state your reasons, to ask others for theirs, to compare and opt for the truth. John the Baptist gives us this lesson: The reason why I came was that he be made known, says John. As a Christian, the reason for my baptism, and my faith and, my love, and the Church, and her sacraments is to make him known and ultimately loved.

3. He is the Son of God. Each one of the Luminous Mysteries deals with a new revelation of Christ's divinity. John's most important message was one that was likely not understood by most who heard him. But it later became one more testimony to this central truth of our Faith. Among those who heard him was St. John, who authors this Gospel, and shortly afterwards, goes off to spend a day with Jesus (John 1:39). No one more clearly proclaims the Lord's divinity than John the Evangelist. The Lamb of God is the Son of God, the only one capable of taking away the sins of the world! For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (John 3:16). This is the heart of our faith; the Word was made flesh and gave his life for our salvation.

Conversation: Dear Lord, help me to appreciate my responsibility to evangelize. Like St. Paul teach me to say, Woe to me if I do not evangelize! Make my faith so strong and alive that I cannot keep it to myself. Help me to put you always first in my life. Thank you for giving me all those who have communicated your truth and love to me.

Questionnaire:

1. How can I give priority to the Lamb of God, who put me first by dying for me? What is taking priority in my life over God and distracting me just enough to turn a deaf ear to Him?

2. What do I do each day to make good on all the spiritual treasure I have received?

3. How critical is my testimony today? Is there someone that God is calling me to share my faith with but I have been avoiding? What concrete steps can I take to begin reaching out to this person?