This Sunday’s Gospel (John 1:29-14) has a detail that I have not appreciated in past readings of this passage; it is: "John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him..." (Verse 29a)
So often I focus on my coming to Jesus, my taking time to come to him in prayer and spiritual reading and in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist. But really he is first coming to me (and all of us). This is the message of Christmas which we just celebrated:
"And the Word [the Son of God] became flesh and dwelt among us." (John :14a)
"And they shall call him ‘Emmanuel,’ meaning God with us." (Matthew 1:23)
We think of ourselves seeking Jesus; but he has first sought us.
We are called to give ourselves to him; but he has first given himself to us.
We are called to love him; but he has first loved us.
What I want to learn to do more is recognize Jesus when he is coming to me!
C. S. Lewis wrote:
"When you come to knowing God, the initiative lies on His side. If He does not show Himself, nothing you can do will enable you to find Him. And, in fact, He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others—not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favourites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one."
I suppose the question is, "How can we clean up the mirror of our soul?" And John the Baptist says: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29b)
