What We Shall Be

What We Shall Be

January 3, 2013

Christmas Weekday

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed.  We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.  1 John 2:2-3

John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him.  I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’  Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”  John 1:32-34

Piety

Jesus, I'm happy that it's still the Christmas season. That means I still have time to pray about your Nativity, which is so big a mystery that I could think about it for days and days. Now, I know that it's hard to know exactly where you were born. Some say in a stable. Some say in a cave. Some say in the back of a small house. But I know that wherever you were born, it wasn't somewhere neat and clean. It was probably messy and crowded and maybe even smelly. Sometimes my life feels like that. In fact, most of the time, Lord. But I know that just as you were not afraid to be born into a noisy, cramped and untidy space, you're not afraid to come into my own life, messy as it is. Help me try to make space for you, Lord. But help me remember that my spiritual house doesn't have to be perfectly neat for you to come into it. So enter into my messiness, Jesus, and I promise to welcome you with joy, just like Mary and Joseph and the shepherds did, and together we'll clean things up and put everything in order.  (Posted to Facebook January 2, 2013 by Rev. James Martin, SJ)

Study

In these early days and hours of a "new year," all is promise.  Like the early followers of Christ, we do not know what will become of us in these coming days and weeks.  But, since the miracle of Christmas, we are reaffirmed in our piety and study and action that we are, indeed, "God's children now." 

That does not imply we were not God's children before December 25.  We were.  Nor does it imply that we will not be after January 3.  We will continue to be.  The state of being close to god and our community is a state in which we find ourselves constantly.  God does not veer away.  Only the choices we make in our messy lives can separate us from the path we are asked to walk as one of God's children.

Action

Early in this year, we have the chance to resolve to clean up our messy lives.  Do more volunteering.   Do more charitable giving.  Figure out, if you have not already  done so, how we will mark the Year of Faith.

The first word quoted by John the Baptist in today's Good News is, "Behold."  As you walk around today, what do you "behold?"  How do you encounter Jesus in everyday life.  John's encounter set him on a path that brought many people into a faith relationship. How will you react to what you behold?

One of the amazing mysteries of this season is the diversity of reactions to the encounters people have with Jesus.  From the doubt of Zechariah to the "Yes" of Mary and Joseph.  From the pursuit of the shepherds and magi to the hunting of Herod. 

BEHOLD.  Resolve to BE more like John as you encounter Christ in the world.  Resolve to HOLD that encounter in your minds, in your hearts and on your lips as your testify to that presence in word and deed and clean up your "messy" life.