Good News Reflection
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent
December 23, 2009
Today's Readings:
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Ps 25:4-5ab,8-10,14
Luke 1:57-66
http://www.usccb.org/nab/122309.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_12_23.mp3
Heralding joy to the world
Today's Gospel passage shows us the birth and naming of John the Baptist. At the end of Advent, the Church gives us John the Baptist as a reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season, but also because John is an example of who we are.
We are not the source of our own happiness, but we do carry the joy of the Lord within us. As heralds of joy, our responsibility is to let others know that because Jesus is the source and center of our lives, even when times are hard and problems seem to crush us, we can rejoice because he cares and we trust that he is actively involved in helping us.
We're not able to rescue people from their problems; that's the Savior's role. God did not give us the ability to bring lost, inactive Catholics back to church; only the Good Shepherd can do that. We were not created with the power to heal the sick, free addicts from slavery to whatever drugs them, or give sight and understanding to those who are blind to the teachings of the Church; these are gifts that only the Son of Godcan provide.
We are heralds of the good news that Jesus can do all of this for those who seek him. To the extent that we allow faith in Christ to transform us and enliven our spirits, that's the extent to which we inspire others so that they want to seek him.
Joy is what evangelizes others, not guilt, not frowns, not bad moods. Today's world needs Christians who know that following Christ truly gives us hope in the midst of financial worries, comfort in the midst of hardships, and joy despite all difficulties.
We all have a vocation of bringing joy to others. A herald prepares a way into people's hearts for the Lord to enter.
Words are not enough to convince people that they need to come to church to worship Jesus and receive him in the Eucharist. If we do exude with joy, Catholicism, with its all its rules and teachings, seems to be a burden instead of a gift. If our worship does not express our joy, attending Mass isn't very appealing.
But when others see that we have joy from knowing that Jesus loves us, faith in him becomes very appealing.
We give people knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of their sins only if the overcoming of our own sins brings us joy. Our joy is proof of the tender mercy of our God. They need to see that faith in Christ guides our feet onto the path of peace rather than a continuous journey of same-old same-old gloomy misery.
Christ is born into their world through your vocation of joy. This Christmas, I pray that your life will more fully proclaim "Joy to the world! The Lord has come!"
© 2009 by Terry A. Modica
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