13th December 2020. (3º T A B)
John 1, 6-8.19-28
“I am the voice crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord”
I have been able to observe, especially in the sacrament of reconciliation, that many believers live their faith as something oppressive, that at certain times they feel it is loaded with external and imposed regulations, that they feel obliged to comply, that they are burdened and lack freedom. It is possible that they have not understood the essence of Christianity.
Those who are people of faith know and feel that, despite the many ills of our world, there are reasons for hope. We have a promise of salvation (gospel=good news), which will become a reality and which will fill us with joy.
“Be joyful always,” St. Paul tells us. “My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour”, proclaims Mary. “In your midst is one whom you do not know”, John the Baptist testifies. This is the reason for joy.
If happiness is an inner state and if everything is the colour of the crystal with which one looks at it, the Christian must live their faith and commitment convinced of the presence and love of God and sharing that love with others.
Living cannot be “enduring”. Believing is more than “fulfilling”, it is “celebrating”. Only in this way can we be witnesses of the Light. A sad Christian is a Christian who is very sad indeed.
Juan Ramon Gomez, cmf
