+ The Christmas Season is now over and we are gearing up for the celebration of the Baptism of Jesus on Sunday, and then the annual retelling of his life, death and resurrection events. We recall today that Jesus indeed is the long-awaited Messiah, he is the light to the nations, and the glory of Israel – though for some reason known only to God his own people still have not received him. But he is the one sent to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives in a way that no one else could do it: in a way that would give real and lasting spiritual sight to the spiritually blind, and to release everyone captured by sin – if they wanted to be released.
The first reading from John tells us what life as a spiritual sighted person is all about: it means seeing that love is where it truly is at: it was God's love that produced Jesus, it is in the dynamic of love that we experience both God and Jesus, it is in loving that we give both God and our neighbor what is their due!
If we say we love God and hate anyone, then we are liars! Maybe in this new year of grace we can more easily line up our love for God with our love for our neighbors, near and far; maybe we can more deeply have this amazing experience of "love, deep in the heart of God, which is an expansive and giving kind of thing." It takes effort on our part – it takes putting our faith into action: but isn't that what being a Christian is all about?
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