Gospel

John 3:22-30 (NRSV)

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them
and baptized. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people
kept coming and were being baptized 24-John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. 25Now a
discussion about purification arose between John's disciples and a Jew. 26They came to John and said to him,
'Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are
going to him.' 27John answered, 'No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, "I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him."
29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices
greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must
decrease.'

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.