“I AM THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING OUT IN THE DESERT,‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD.’” JN 1:19-28
Humbly submit your will to God (thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Prayer Prompt before reading JN 1:19-28: Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray, interpret the Scriptures for me so that I may know the Truth about who God the Father and God the Son are so that I may know who I am.
As we begin John’s Gospel, we have the first of 4 testimonies of John the Baptist. Today, being the first testimony, a negative testimony of himself for “the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie”. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in today’s Gospel, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”
As the new Church calendar year has begun, a fresh start upon us, how will we prepare ourselves for the Lord’s Second Coming? Life is difficult. Change is hard. Jesus forces us to make a decision. The Devil is deceiving. So without false hope and trying to make real change to grow closer to Christ this year we can learn something from John the Baptist.
What I have learned is to prayerfully reflect on one small change I can make that will make a big change. Changes that have made the biggest impact in my life are 2 minutes of silence, waking early to read the daily Mass readings, reflect on them and journal. Each year reading the “Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary” by St. Louis de Montfort.
Another major impact on my life has been to say my rosary while exercising. There is always something that happens when kneeling before a crucifix on a hard surface and listening to what Christ has to say. On Passion Fridays putting rocks in my shoes to suffer with the Lord and watching a Passion of Christ Music video (In Christ Alone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUryMnPHhlc)
Read a title a day of the Bible (Pick a Gospel to start and finish, watch “The Chosen” while you go through it, Sirach, Proverbs, or the Psalms). Read a couple pages a day of the Youcat (Youth Catechism). Adoration-adults can start with short visits more often, young people this can also be done by make a prayer table in your bedroom and kneeling or sitting and praying in silence. It is key to go to the same place at the same time and make a habit of prayer. This will save your soul and comfort it in the dark times. If you stay dedicated to it, it will become your favorite place to go.
For adults, you can add a daily Mass to your weekly schedule. Put a spiritual book in the car so you can read it while traveling or when waiting at the Doctor’s office. Pray as a family, especially the rosary. I am sure the Holy Spirit has revealed other ways to grow closer to Christ. Listen and change slowly expecting challenges and failure. God can do anything with His grace to make an impact on your life. It can be a huge punch, but most often it is very slow and subtle.
Today is the feast of two great Doctors of the Church, St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen. I would like to share one story of St. Basil today.
“As bishop, Basil was a courageous and heroic champion of the Catholic faith against the Arian heresy (denied the divinity of Jesus). In 372 Emperor Valens sent Modestus, the prefect, to Cappadocia to introduce Arianism as the state religion. Modestus approached the holy bishop, upbraided him for his teaching, and threatened despoliation, exile, martyrdom, and death.
To these words of the Byzantine despot, Basil replied with the peace of divine faith: “Is that all? Nothing of what you mentioned touches me. We possess nothing, we can be robbed of nothing. Exile will be impossible, since everywhere on God’s earth I am at home. Torments cannot afflict me, for I have no body. And death is welcome, for it will bring me more quickly to God. To a great extent I am already dead; for a long time I have been hastening to the grave.” Astonished, the prefect remarked: “Till today no one has ever spoken to me so courageously.” “Perhaps,” rejoined Basil, “you have never before met a bishop.”
Modestus hastened back to Valens. “Emperor,” he said, “we are bested by this leader of the Church. He is too strong for threats, too firm for words, too clever for persuasion.” Catholic Culture.org
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-01-02
Today’s challenge: Make straight the path for Jesus in your life. Be vulnerable to God and ask Jesus to consume you.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; We will live again!)
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