Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Christmas Weekday | USCCB
In our gospel for today we hear of the forerunner of
Jesus Christ: John the Baptist. He was the first to recognize Jesus as the
Messiah. All throughout John’s life, John was aware of who Jesus was.
Looking back at Mary’s visitation to her cousin Elizabeth, John’s mother, in Luke, chapter 1, verse 44, we hear Elizabeth say to Mary, “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” So, even in the womb of Elizabeth, John was able to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior.
As Catholics, we hear these words of John at every
Holy Mass. As the priest holds up the consecrated Host he says, “Behold the
Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.” We see in the
consecrated hosts the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that John saw more
than 2,000 years ago. And then we reply, like the centurion in Matthew, chapter8, verse 8, by saying, “Lord, I am not worthy for you to enter under my roof.
But only say the word and I shall be healed,” Do we truly leap for joy, like
John in Elizabeth’s womb, when we see Jesus being held before us by the priest?
After all, we are seeing Jesus, body, blood, soul, and divinity, being held
before us.
Further, as Christians, we are called to imitate John
the Baptist by first recognizing Jesus when we see Him before us at Mass, and
then we are called to share this good news of Jesus Christ with everyone in our
lives, family and friends. Everyone who sees us should know that we are
followers of Jesus Christ by how we live our lives. By sharing the Good News of
Jesus Christ with others in our lives, we are being like John the Baptist. We
are saying to them, Behold the Lamb of God.
St. Theresa of Calcutta once said, “Deepen your prayer
life and you will grow in holiness and obtain many graces for the souls
entrusted to your care.” Let us continue to do as Mother Theresa says, and we
will then be able to lead others into relationship with Jesus Christ.
Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the
sins of the world.
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteI would not say that I go so far as to "leap for joy" when I behold Our LORD hidden under the appearance of bread at the Consecration, elevation & when the priest once again elevates the Sacred Host & says the words "Behold the Lamb of GOD", but I do respond with a certain degree of reverence, awe & love when I am not too distracted by either preparing to distribute Holy Communion or preparing to sing the Communion hymn. I receive Holy Communion in the hand, & receiving Our Eucharistic LORD in the hand provides me with an extra moment before placing the Sacred Host in my mouth to gaze upon Him & murmur "JESUS, I love You." The practice of receiving Holy Communion in the hand is much maligned by Catholics who are very traditional & who believe that this method is irreverent, perhaps even sacrilegious, & partially responsible for the paucity of faith in & reverence for the Real Presence of Our LORD JESUS in the Eucharist. But for me I think that I we are properly catechized & trained we can use this opportunity to demonstrate reverence & love for Our LORD in the Eucharist in a new way.
I think most people I encounter soon find out that I am a Catholic Christian & I trust that my example & my words help me to "prepare the way of the LORD" to come into their lives.