Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health Vailankanni

[Jesus came to John to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying: "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" (Mt 3:13-14)] "I am the voice, the voice crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord." So I cannot be silent, Lord, in your presence. I "need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (…) You existed from the beginning, you were with God and you were God (Jn 1:1). You are the radiance the Father's glory, the perfect image of the perfect Father (Heb 1:3). You are the true light enlightening every person who comes into the world (Jn 1:9). You were in the world yet you have come to where you were already. You have become flesh, but you have not been changed into flesh. You have lived among us, appearing to your servants in the likeness of a servant (Jn 1:14; 14:23; Phil 2:7). You by your holy name have bridged heaven and earth, and do you come to me? You, so great, to such as I? King to herald, master to servant? (…) I know the distance between the earth and the Creator, between the clay and the potter. I know how far I, a lamp lit by your grace, am outshone by you, the Sun of Righteousness (Mal 3:20; Jn 5:35). You are concealed by the pure cloud of your body, but I still recognize your sovereignty. I acknowledge my servile condition; I proclaim your greatness. I admit your absolute authority, and my own lowly estate. "I am unworthy to undo the strap of your sandal»; how then could I dare to touch your immaculate head? How could I stretch out my hand over you, who «stretched out the heavens like a tent," and "set the earth upon the waters" (Pss. 104[103]:2; 136[135]:6)? (…) Surely it is not for me to pray over you, for you are the one who receives the prayers even of those who have no knowledge of you.

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"I am unworthy to stoop down to loosen the thongs of his sandals"

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