So many people are hurting. So many people are searching for some sort of meaning to the madness of life. They need us to be heralds of God’s presence. We are called upon to assume the role of John the Baptist, proclaiming a new way of life, a new kingdom. Who was this John the Baptist? In the Gospel for today we hear him declare that he is not Elijah, not the prophet Moses spoke about, nor is he the anointed one, the Christ. Who was this John the Baptist? The first words of today’s gospel tell us everything we need to know about him. He is the one who was sent to give testimony. He was sent. The word in the original Greek is apostolein, apostle. He was sent to give testimony. The word here in the original Greek is marturios, martyr. John the Baptist, Apostle and Martyr. John was the first apostle. He was the first one sent to proclaim the presence of the Christ. He was also the first Christian martyr. John was the first one to give testimony to the Truth of Christ among us. He paid with his life for his testimony to Truth. We are called to be like John the Baptist. We are called to be apostles and witnesses. We have been entrusted with a mission from God. We have been created for a purpose. We were given God’s life at baptism so we can share his life with others. We are his witnesses. We are called to make the presence of Christ a reality in our worlds by giving witness to his presence in our own lives.
The world deeply needs our witness to Christ. Look how evident that is right now, just two weeks before Christmas. For many people Christmas has become a pagan celebration. Materialism is their god. All mention of spirituality is rejected. They claim that Christ does not exist, or that if he ever did exist, he has lost his impact upon the world. With this as the basis of their lives, they condemn themselves to a life of frustration. Because they reject Christ, they reject his cross and find themselves incapable of putting sacrifice for others before their own selfishness. They demand that all mention of Jesus be taken out of Christmas. They refer to Christmas as the gifting season. They want the feast of Christ’s presence among us to become the exact opposite of the whole reason why God sent his Son. They reject Christ and contort Christmas into a celebration of materialism. Their Christmas models their lives: shallow, empty, meaningless. And they hurt. They hurt because deep within themselves they need this Messiah whose life they have rejected. But where can they find him? The world that has rejected Jesus Christ needs witnesses to His Presence. The world needs new John the Baptists to point to Jesus. We are called to be these witnesses • AE
St. Dominic Catholic Church
Weekend Schedule
Saturday, December 16, 2023
3.00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation – Fr. Jaime P.
5.00 p.m. Holy Mass (English) – Fr. Jaime P.
Sunday, December 17, 2023
7.30 a.m. Holy Mass (English) – Fr. Jaime P.
10.00 a.m. Holy Mass (English) – Fr. Jaime P.
12.30 p.m. Holy Mass (English) – Fr. Agustin E.
3.00 p.m. Santa Misa – Fr. Agustin E.
Tercer Domingo de Adviento (Ciclo B)
J. de Ribera, San Juan Bautista en el desierto (1641), óleo sobre tela, Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid)
Es curioso cómo presenta en el evangelio de este domingo, el tercero de Adviento, la figura de Juan el Bautista. Es un hombre, sin más calificativos ni precisiones. Nada se nos dice de su origen o condición social. El mismo sabe que no es importante. No es el Mesías, no es Elías, ni siquiera es el Profeta que todos están esperando. Sólo se ve a sí mismo como la voz que grita en el desierto. Sin embargo se nos dice que Dios lo envía como testigo de la luz» capaz de despertar la fe de todos. Una persona que puede contagiar luz y vida. ¿Qué es ser testigo de la luz?
El testigo es como Juan. No se da importancia. No busca ser original ni llamar la atención. No es narcisista. No trata de impactar a nadie. Sencillamente vive su vida de manera convencida. Se le ve que Dios ilumina su vida. Lo irradia en su manera de vivir y de creer. El testigo de la luz no habla mucho, pero es una voz. Vive algo inconfundible. Comunica lo que a él le hace vivir. No dice cosas sobre Dios, pero contagia algo. No da lecciones de moral, y su levanta el dedo es para señalar al Señor, no para decir “El magisterio de la Iglesia dice…”, sino que, sencillamente invita a creer. Invita. Nunca impone. La vida del testigo atrae y despierta interés. No culpabiliza a nadie. No condena. Contagia confianza en Dios, libera de miedos. Abre siempre caminos. Es como el Bautista: allana el camino al Señor. El testigo se siente débil y limitado. Muchas veces comprueba que su fe no encuentra apoyo ni eco social. Incluso se ve rodeado de indiferencia o rechazo. El testigo de Dios no juzga a nadie. No ve a los demás como adversarios que hay que combatir o convencer. Dios sabe cómo encontrarse con cada uno de sus hijos e hijas.
Se dice que el mundo actual se va convirtiendo en un desierto, pero el testigo nos revela que algo sabe de Dios y del amor, algo sabe de la fuente y de cómo se calma la sed de felicidad que hay en el ser humano. La vida está llena de pequeños testigos. Son creyentes sencillos, humildes, conocidos sólo en su entorno. Personas entrañablemente buenas que viven desde la verdad y el amor. Ellos nos allanan el camino hacia Dios ¡Qué afortunados somos al tenerlos cerca! • AE
LA MEDITACION DE LA ESPOSA 