News - January 2022 RSS Feed

We heard in the second reading that, “Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). This invitation of love includes being patient and kind towards yourself.

Imagine yourself in the synagogue in Nazareth, as one of the people from the town in the crowd. You see Jesus and remember what he was like as a little boy. You know his family as fellow members of your community of worship. You see him diligently searching through the scroll of Isaiah until he begins to read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

As was proclaimed in the Gospel reading, Jesus listened to the voice of the Father say to Him, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). Through the gift of baptism, we become adopted children of God – we too become the Father’s beloved.

On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May of 2018, I visited the Church of The Nativity in Bethlehem. This church marks the location of the cave where Jesus was born. For the specific spot of Christ’s birth, there is a golden star engraved on the ground that people reverently kiss.