Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church
St Francis spent entire nights praying while meditating on these two reflective questions. Taking time to recognize who we are as God’s beloved and understanding God as Trinity help us to grow in our realization of what it means to be a child of God. Today’s readings provide insights that illustrate God’s presence in our lives and our response as God’s presence in the world.
In the first reading St. John reminds us that we need to “remain in Christ.” When we stay connected to the Son, then we also will remain with the Father. From the beginning we have been “anointed” and have been given all that is true through Jesus. We receive the Spirit which allows us to grow in our faith. It is this “anointing” that provides our connection to the Father and Son, so we can remain with them.
In the gospel reading, John the Baptist is being questioned by Jews sent from the priests and Levites. They are trying to understand, “Who are you?” John understands that he is not a prophet, Elijah or the Christ. He also recognizes his vital role in preparing the path for Jesus. John points to Jesus and the baptism of the Spirit as the means by which God draws humanity into relationship. John is able to appreciate his unique calling, so he can allow God to work through him and to use his particular gifts and talents.
How often do we spend time reflecting on who we are and our relationship with God? Many times we use identifiers such as mother, father, friend, teacher, and citizen etc. to describe who we are. And yet do these descriptions really capture the essence of who we are? When we seek the core of our person, what do we see that sets us apart from others? Do we realize that we were created like no other person in the history of creation? How does this revelation influence how we think and what we do and say?
Our faith tells us that God has created us out of love. God calls us into relationship and desires our unique response to that call. When we remain in Christ, we provide an opportunity for the Spirit to move through us, so “who we are” becomes an opportunity for God to be visible in the world. Our expression of the Spirit is like no other person’s, since we reflect God’s light in our very individual way. We are God’s beloved created in a very particular way to live in a very particular time. Our gifts, talents, and even our flaws are all part of the extraordinary expression of God’s presence in the world through our lives.
Our God is a God of relationships. The Father, Son and Spirit are one and they invite others to “remain” within this union. Who is God and how do we respond to God’s call? Creator, Savior, Father, Mother, Adonai, Wisdom- these are a few names that some people use when they refer to God. But none of these words capture the true essence of God. Since we believe that God is not limited, we will never be able to completely grasp “who God is”, and yet it is this very God who calls us “beloved” and creates us in their likenesss and image.
Spending time contemplating who we are, who God is, and our relationship to God is challenging, but these reflections can lead to a deeper appreciation of God’s presence in our lives and in the world. Not only are we made aware of God’s love for our unique person, but we are reminded that every person and thing has been created in love in a particular way. Everyone is created in God’s image, and each individual is uniquely God’s beloved. Our introspection turns outward as we recognize God’s presence in others, and therefore our call to love others just as we love God.
As we journey into the new year, may we make time to reflect on God and who we are in God. May these revelations bring us greater faith, hope and love as we become conduits of the Spirit for the world around us.
Creator God, you made us in your likeness, and you sent Jesus to share the fullness of your love. Send your Spirit upon us so we may always “remain” in you. May each of us as a unique creation become expressions of your love. We pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN.
- Marylynn Herchline