Come and You Will See January 4

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. 1 John 3:9

“Come, and you will see.” John 1:39

Piety

Let us pray: Jesus, as you invite us to the holy hospitality of your banquet, help us to prepare a place for you in our minds (trough study), in our hearts (through action) and in our souls (through prayer). Give us the courage to overcome our fears and invite you to dwell with us not for one hour, not for one day but for one lifetime. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/010407.shtml

Is Jesus staying with you?

If you have ever been anyplace where Tom Silva speaks, then you know it isn’t long before he talks lovingly about hospitality. Coming off the holidays, thoughts about hospitality are fresh in our minds – maybe even still active. Have you recently been visitors staying over at friends or relatives’ homes? Or have you opened your homes to a holiday party or visitors from out of town. Just think of the preparation and planning that goes into those short visits.

Invitations. Schedules. Planning for the travel. Planning for the sleeping arrangements. Planning for meals. Entertainment. Planning for activities when the guests are here (or when you arrive at your host/hostess’ home). Other visitors come by to see your guests. You get the picture. Then, after two or three days, or ten, the guests depart and we go through the ritual of packing, planning another run to the airport, Union Station, or getting the car ready to hit the road again.

Today, John the Baptist is the announcer. He is our Couric-Gibson-Williams-Lehrer announcing the Good News: “Behold, the Lamb of God.” This is a message repeated and relived on every altar and echoed in every Communion line in every Catholic Church every day.

John has done the preparation. He opens the door for the disciples to follow Jesus. Like a good and faithful servant, he announces the presence of the Messiah and gets out of the way. Jesus takes over from here. Jesus invites us into his presence. Jesus invites his presence into our lives. “Come and you will see.” Today Jesus plants a seed that will grow in time.

Action

What preparation are you making for Jesus to stay with you? Consider changing your routine this Sunday when you stop by Jesus’ house for a short visit. Read the Good News before going to Mass. Bring a special offering. Come and you will see.

From that seed, you can plan his longer stay at your place.