When Jesus was born, they
came to the place he was at and found the Lord. Today, we celebrate each of us as
we face this journey.
If you’ve watched the show,
The Journey Home on EWTN, then you’ve seen stories of people’s journey to the
Catholic faith. Many have long journeys. All started in a different place. Their
beginnings can be non-religious, non-Christian, fallen away Catholics, and even
other Christian faiths. The guests tell of their journey to God and the
Catholic faith. Their journeys take them through beautiful and wonderful times;
but it also takes them through times of doubts or despair, and past obstacles.
Each searched diligently for
the Lord as intelligent and inquisitive people not the ignorant robots the
world accuses. They found Christ in the Eucharist.
We could tell their story
like this: Jesus was born in their hearts; they came to the place he was at and
found the Lord. They didn’t go back the same way, they changed.
That story sounds like the
gospel, a story of travelers (magi, wise men, kings). When Jesus was born, they
came. Each traveled a great distance across beautiful landscapes, barren
deserts, and mountain obstacles. Together, they came to were the child was at and
found the Lord. They didn’t go back the same way, they changed.
The journey of the magi is
our journey. Traveling through our lives, we seek the truth. In that search is
our journey to find God. Even for the wisest people this is a long trip.
We’re all heading to the
same destination, but each of us start at different place, with different
experiences and needs, and approach from different angles. To some, it’s a
journey of three steps forward and two steps back. We pass through beautiful
times, times of despair and doubt, and past obstacles. Some get lost in
darkness the world at us.
In our first reading, Isaiah
says “Raise your eyes and look about” to see the Lord. This is how Paul received
the revelation he spoke about. On the
road to Damascus
Those who don’t look can be
like Herrod: jealous; trying to impress the world with self importance; saying
they seek Jesus: truly only seeking control, but, the world control’s them; afraid
to let Jesus in.
Maybe, they are like the priest
and scribes: knowing but ignoring; living self-righteous lives - stagnant and lifeless;
happy going to Mass but sleeping through it; never meeting Jesus.
Those who do seek are like the
magi: searching for the truth that only God can provide; trying to understand the
mystery in the birth of a child; seeking and yearning to meet the Lord; falling
at his feet.
Seeking the Lord, we travel
through the darkness that covers the world. We the thick clouds we have made
our comfort zone and enter a dialogue. “Lord if I journey on the right path,
keep me there; if I have strayed, put me back on the right path.”
If we truly seek the Lord, God
helps us find our way. Our way will lead us through beautiful and
wonderful times; take us through doubts or despair. Our way will
overcome obstacles.
Where are we at brothers and
sisters? Are we ready to find Him and give Him our gifts? Are we prepared to
change?
Jesus our Lord is born. We
come to find him.
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