“[T]he anointing that you received from him remains in you…remain in him”(1Jn 2:28). We are the anointed of Christ. We were first anointed at our Baptism. Whenever we receive a sacrament or go to Mass we are anointed again. We “receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). We receive the life-breath of Christ. We receive forgiveness, joy, contentment, and fulfillment. The power to think, say and do what is right. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, We have just celebrated Christ’s coming into our human history. If we remain aware and awake we can recognize Christ’s coming in each moment of our lives. Maybe it is easier to see the fruit of Christ’s coming; when someone offers to help us change our flat tire, when we are down and someone cheers us, when we are lonely and someone offers us company, when all seems to be falling apart, but you have a sense of peace that it will all be fine. If we share these moments of presence (the pronunciation sounds like presents; “those with ears should hear”) some may discard them as coincidence, but “his anointing teaches you everything and is true and not false” (1Jn 2:28) We are assured of the promise. “I am with you always” (Mt 28:18). A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices We are not Christ, but like John we are heralds of Christ’s coming. We are “a voice of one crying out in the desert” (Jn 1: 20). We are to breathe out the life-breath of the Spirit. We bring Christ to others in our own unique way. We are to give joy, contentment, forgiveness. What beauty, hope and joy this can bring to the world! Yet, we are never alone; there is no need to fear or to worry about what to say. We have been anointed. We have received the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. In all our trials born to be our Friend! Christ can only become incarnate in the world through us. Christ’s peace and Christ’s joy must come through us. Christ’s reign of love and forgiveness can only come through us. As we celebrate Christ’s coming into the world, we need to also celebrate and receive Christ’s coming into our hearts, so that Christ’s peace will reign throughout the earth. Truly He taught us to love one another; Christ has come. Christ is coming. Christ will come again. This doxology is about our lives. Christ has come into our lives. Christ is coming into our lives at each moment. Christ will come into our lives in each new moment of our living. What is your response? Do you have a resolution? Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise
we, *Exerpts from O Holy Night; by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure, 1847 - Tr. John Sullivan Dwight |