Recognizing the Holiness of the Other
In this Sunday’s Gospel, though we are in Ordinary Time, the Baptism of Jesus continues. Last week we heard just a brief description of the event, and in John’s Gospel it is longer and more detailed. John shares with us how he comes to recognize that this man, Jesus, is the one: “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and remain upon him . . . “ We learn that John was given specific instructions, that upon whomever he saw the Spirit descend and remain, he was “the One.” So, he concludes, “Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
I wonder if we have our eyes attuned to the appearance of Jesus among us. Nowadays, he comes much more disguised: as the person we might want to demonize, the poor, the immigrant, the outcast. He comes as the member of our family who is hard to love. He even comes, perhaps, as parts of ourselves, our own broken humanity, that are hard to accept and love. This is hard! It would be easier if we were given a clearer sign like John had.
I also find it hard to recognize the presence of God in our times in general, when it seems like we as a society are becoming more cruel, less patient and accepting, more quickly given to violence rather than dialogue. I feel I have no control over so much, and that is likely true. But what I do have control over is my own decision to recognize the presence of God in the midst of us. St. Ignatius’ view of the Incarnation is that the world was really going downhill fast . . . and the Trinity asked, “What should we do?” The Second Person of the Trinity stepped up. “I will go.” Jesus came because we needed him. God did not give up on us but came to be with us, to walk with us. Jesus calls us do what he did, to be busy about the Kingdom, with all we meet. He invites us to be open to Other, to be loving of others, to see the Holiness of all people. Jesus did not have an easy time of it! The price of loving others was high, but he never ceased living his mission. So, too, we are called to do double down on the mission to love.
I wonder if we have our eyes attuned to the appearance of Jesus among us. Nowadays, he comes much more disguised: as the person we might want to demonize, the poor, the immigrant, the outcast. He comes as the member of our family who is hard to love. He even comes, perhaps, as parts of ourselves, our own broken humanity, that are hard to accept and love. This is hard! It would be easier if we were given a clearer sign like John had.
I also find it hard to recognize the presence of God in our times in general, when it seems like we as a society are becoming more cruel, less patient and accepting, more quickly given to violence rather than dialogue. I feel I have no control over so much, and that is likely true. But what I do have control over is my own decision to recognize the presence of God in the midst of us. St. Ignatius’ view of the Incarnation is that the world was really going downhill fast . . . and the Trinity asked, “What should we do?” The Second Person of the Trinity stepped up. “I will go.” Jesus came because we needed him. God did not give up on us but came to be with us, to walk with us. Jesus calls us do what he did, to be busy about the Kingdom, with all we meet. He invites us to be open to Other, to be loving of others, to see the Holiness of all people. Jesus did not have an easy time of it! The price of loving others was high, but he never ceased living his mission. So, too, we are called to do double down on the mission to love.
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