The Reason Why
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. 1 John 3:2
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold,
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I
said,
‘A man is coming after me, who ranks ahead of me because
he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing
with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John 1:29-31
Piety
Father Tuck Grinnel shared this Thomas Merton prayer with
the participants at the New Year’s Eve Retreat at the Washington Retreat
Center. It spoke to many of the pilgrims about our uncertain road ahead and our
search for meaning. Maybe it will do the same for you.
“My Lord God, I have no idea where
I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where
it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am
following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire
to please you does, in fact, please you. And I hope I have that desire
in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that
desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though
I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for
you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
― Thomas Merton, Thoughts in
Solitude
Study
Our first reading reminds us once again expands that the most
significant sign of God’s love is the gift of his Son (Jn 3:16) incarnate in
the world on this Tenth Day of Christmas just as he was on Christmas Morning. That
gift makes all Christians the real children of God. This relationship began in the
past, remains a “present” reality, and will also be a part of life to come.[i] Ultimately,
we will obtain actual knowledge of God. As Christians, we prepare ourselves now
by virtuous lives in imitation of the Son.
John the Baptist did not (yet) know Jesus. That did not stop
him from his ministry. He powered on through the desert heat and those meals of
locust and honey awaiting the day when he would again meet up with his cousin.
The other day, we encountered Simeon and Anna at prayer in the
temple. They lived long lives, and the endless days did not stop them from
awaiting the day they would face the Baby in the temple.
Action
In the joy of the season, and the beginning of the New Year,
consider how much like John and Simeon and Anna we are. Our commutes, careers,
and education also should not stop us from preparing to gain the knowledge of
God that we seek.
We join a long line of saints and sinners who did not know
where their journey would lead but continued on step-by-step, day-by-day.
Let us pray and act on the desire to see God more clearly,
to love Jesus more dearly, and to follow the Spirit more nearly. Yes. Day. By.
Day.
[i] As
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever…
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