Word to the Wise
Saturday, January 2, 2010 - Sts. Basil and Gregory (Bishops and Doctors of the Church)
[1 John 2:22-28 and John1:19-28]I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.
Despite the secular calendar change, the liturgical calendar is still in the Christmas/Epiphany season. The good news of Jesus' birth, the wonder of the Incarnation, is the focus of the scripture. There is an effort to overcome the words of John the Baptist: There is one among you whom you do not recognize. Are the decorations back in the cartons? Is the crib set back in its closet or attic? Is the tree out at the curb? Is Christmas gone,or at least 300+ shopping days ahead? Are we in danger of "forgetting" or not recognizing the one who has been born to us? On Sunday, we will celebrate the feast of the Epiphany in which we note the visit of the Magi who traveled a great distance to find the one whose birth was announced to them by a star. Their recognition came at a great effort on their part. All we have to do is to recognize the Christ born in each of our brothers and sisters. AMEN