Aneel Aranha's video: January 9 2021 - Decrease to Increase - A Reflection on John 3:22-30

If we want Christ to increase in us, we have to decrease. https://youtu.be/5sHxdUel0ys Scripture Reading: John 3:22-30 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Ae′non near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptized. For John had not yet been put in prison. Now a discussion arose between John’s disciples and a Jew over purifying. And they came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before 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; therefore, this joy of mine is now full. He must increase, but I must decrease Reflection: John had a clear understanding of who he was and what his purpose was. His goal was to make straight the way of the Lord. It did not mean that he was just going to make Jesus known to people; it also meant drawing them to repentance so they could be filled with the righteousness of Christ. After Jesus appeared, he began baptizing people. John's disciples, undoubtedly resentful of the fact, told John about what Jesus was doing. However, in humility, he replied that his joy was now complete. "Now he must increase, but I must decrease," he said. Here we are today, reflecting on the word of God. If Jesus were to ask us what the intention of these reflections was, what would we say? We read the gospel of the day — which is the good news about Jesus Christ — and reflect upon repentance, forgiveness, love, faith, charity, and other things of God. Wouldn't you agree that these reflections intend for our old self to decrease and for Jesus in a new self to increase? Scripture says, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has passed away, and the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our lives need to reflect what we learn from these daily Gospel readings. We should be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ (see Philippians 1:11.), and we will be recognized by our fruit (see Matthew 7:20) So, are we willing to decrease so that Jesus may increase in us? For that, we need to die to ourselves. Not just once but daily. We know that our old sinful self is crucified with Jesus, and we are no longer enslaved to sin (see Romans 6:6). Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). Christ died for a reason. It was for us. Let his sacrifice not be in vain. Let him increase and let us decrease.