10 December 2020

Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Loreto

John the Baptist is the “Precursor,” the one who, by words and actions, shows us how we should go about recognizing our Redeemer, who comes to us as a helpless infant at Christmas.  John’s teaching is complementary, not at variance with what Christ said in yesterday’s Gospel about stopping awhile and getting some rest; time for quiet introspection. It is there we will get to know ourselves better. What we will probably learn is that we are pretty lackadaisical when it comes to prayer; that it is so easy to lose enthusiasm and energy for things spiritual.  John will teach us that we are sinners, along with the reality that nothing solid is built with soft sand.  John will challenge us to be tougher on ourselves, to make some occasional mortifications in order to prepare for the coming of our Redeemer at Christmas.  So, today let us say some prayers to the man who lived on locuts and wild honey, asking that he give us a shove to see how we can follow the Lord more closely, confident of his designs for us and our happiness.