Many texts from the Gospels seem difficult to us because they derive from the ancient Jewish spirituality that is distant from our culture. But with a little patience we can use them to enrich our Christian life.
In the scene of Jesus’ baptism, which we continue to read, John the Baptist puts these words into his mouth: “He who comes after me is greater than I, because I existed before me.” What does this mean? Is he referring to what theology calls the preexistence of the Word, that Jesus was in heaven and then descended to earth? The Gospel does not usually concern itself with these dogmatic truths so later elaborated.
We propose another translation: “Behind me comes a man who stands before me, because I WAS FIRST WHO I WAS.” This alludes to the Jewish law of the levirate, by which a mechanism of protection is established for the widowed and solitary woman. Jesus has been the great protector, the one who has taken the lonely wife home that we are in our weakness. Jesus is baptized to support us in our weakness.
How to live a Christian faith with a supportive mindset? How to see that if we do not support the weak, we cannot be followers of Jesus? Three possible paths:
· Listen: because loneliness heard is less loneliness and listening is a privileged way to love. May your listening be attentive, “loving,” as the remembered Pope Francis said.
· Comfort: pour peace upon a troubled heart, pour peace. It’s not about the false comfort of empty words, but about the comfort that leads one to stand resolutely by the side of the one who suffers.
· Get involved: get a little involved, because supporting without getting involved leaves things empty. Firmly believe that the situations of those who suffer also concern you.
The press sometimes surprises us with news that overwhelms us, such as the story of that elderly man from Valencia who was found dead after fifteen years. What an abyss of loneliness! To live alone, to die alone, to be alone year after year. We should not only be moved, but we should also be encouraged to investigate the situations of loneliness of the most vulnerable and do something to make such loneliness less burdensome. The fight against loneliness is to accompany as Jesus accompanies us.
Pope Leo XIV was letting out a cry in his early days of pontificate: “Too many discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, fear, prejudice, indifference towards the poor and violence against the earth. And yet, we want to be a leaven of fraternity, of communion, of protection.” We have a beautiful task for this year just begun. Cheer for everyone.
Fidel Aizpurúa Donazar
January 18, 2026
English version translated with AI