Christmas Weekday
Looks can be deceiving. We know this not only because we are told, but because our experiences confirm it. We have all seen the warning on the side mirror that says, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Or maybe you have witnessed the way that objects can be distorted underwater. Whatever your experiences are, on a daily basis we are reminded that things might not be what they seem at first glance. This transcends just the way that our senses can be fooled, but also relates to the way that God interacts with the world. Looks can be deceiving, and we should remember that God doesn't always work in bright beams of light and little gold halos.
This reality is one of the messages in today’s readings. In the 1st reading we encounter these words, “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.” We are not merely called children of God, but we are actually adopted into God’s family as His children. This is a profound mystery and John implies and that to recognize it we first have to recognize the Father. John wrote, “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
In today’s gospel, we see this theme of deceiving appearances continued. We read about how John the Baptist did not know Jesus as the messiah and as God’s Son. Now, I think it is a fair assumption that John knew Jesus as his relative. However in this passage he looks across to see his relative and says “I did not know him.” Looks were deceiving. Despite Christ’s appearance as just another Israelite coming to John for baptism, John recognized him as the Christ because he knew the Father. He did not see him as his cousin, but as his savior.
As Catholics, this principle of “looks can be deceiving” is so important for us. We believe that God approaches us spiritually through the material things of this universe. We should not erroneously assume that all things material are secular. Rather we recognize that God approaches us through water, one another, the pages of scripture, the cathedral of His creation, the laying on of hands, the words of absolution, anointing, and bread and wine.
The next time we approach the sacraments, the scripture, or a community gathered in God’s name, we must remember that He is there. Especially, as we approach the altar we may see bread and wine. See what love the Father has bestowed on us that these may be called the Body and Blood of our Lord, our food for immortality. Yet so it is.
Looks can be deceiving, but if John the Apostle trusts the word of our God that we are His children, and John the Baptist could trust that his kinsman was the Son of God, then I too can trust the Lord when he tells me “This is my Body… This is my Blood,” but only if I know Him will I recognize Him.
Lord help my belief to help me know you and my knowledge of you to help me believe in you, so that as your child I can testify to my brother and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
- Spencer Hargadon