1. Wednesday Gospel Webinar
Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

2. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

3. Literal meaning
Where? John 1 - prologue and Bethany, far side of the Jordan
When? Before the public ministry of Jesus
What? John is introduced and gives his witness
Who? John, priests and Levites, Jews and Pharisees who sent them
How? John responds to those sent to question him
Why? To fulfil the Scripture / to prepare for Christ / to show the light

4. The witness of John A witness to speak for the Light
‘Reluctant’ witness
Trial to establish identity
‘I am not’ Christ / Elijah / the Prophet
The credibility of God who speaks: the voice
The invitation to believe

5. The Light among the blind
Finding God
The Light among the blind
The Word among the deaf
Christ / the Prophet
Stands among us
Unknown to us

6. Finding the human person
Called to see / made for the Light
Called to hear / made for the Truth
Listening to witnesses
Believing witnesses
Being a witness
Faith in the Word of God

7. Points to the Lamb of God
Finding the Church
Stands as a witness
The voice of the Word
The Lamp of the Light
Points to the Lamb of God
Christ among us, hidden

9. Mary, Virgin and Mother,
you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,
welcomed the word of life
in the depths of your humble faith:
as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,
help us to say our own “yes”
to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,
to proclaim the good news of Jesus.
Mother of the living Gospel,
wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones,
pray for us.
Amen. Alleluia.

10. Acknowledgments
Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti
With gratitude to the Wednesday Word