Jan 11 Sun
How can Jesus be present in the world?
Last Sunday, in the Epiphany, the Magi met a Child, in need to be wrapped in swaddling clothes. His Mother, Our Lady, was always there because she gave birth to him. There is a transition, from her most pure womb to this material world; from being still hidden to being visible in the manger.
Today is the Baptism of Our Lord. In his Baptism, the Blessed Trinity declares that he is God, the Son of God, “my Beloved Son…”. Our Lady is not there, because Jesus is God, was God, and will be God forever. He proceeds from the Father, uncreated, not made, consubstantial with the Father. There is no transition from not being to being, but continuity. He, simply, IS.
Two feasts form a single story. The Epiphany tells us that He has a human nature. The Baptism tells us that he is God. God and Man in a single Person.
Let us go to the cave of Bethlehem and, with faith and simplicity, and from the depths of our hearts, let us adore Jesus, promising him that we will always follow his star.
Let us trust that Jesus is the true light that will bring us the happiness we seek in the things of this world. For only Christ alone will fill the longing for happiness that we seek.
But how can I, wretched as I am, approach Jesus?
Saint Josemaría told us:
“I am moved by this angel who crawls ‘on all fours’ to approach the newborn Jesus.
A spiritual being with perfect intelligence, love, will, and freedom understands that he can only approach the mystery of the Infant God by crawling along the wise path of humility."
Our Lord shows Himself to us when, with the light of the Holy Spirit, He makes us grasp that He is at our side as we go along our path through life; and He is asking us, as He asked John, to bear witness to him. Each of us must bear witness to Christ. This is what He wants us to do: to get to know him, and then to share with others the saving news that we have found him.
St. Josemaría tells us: “All my children are Christ passing through the world. You are not known. Yet, all over the world, friends and colleagues at work are discovering Christ in your brothers, in you. Afterwards, they too will bring Christ to other hearts and minds. You are Christ passing along the street. But you must walk in his footsteps."
“Now, do you understand the greatness of your mission?"