Thursday of the 3rd week of Advent

Messengers

Luke 7:24-30

What is Christmas?  It is not an annual activity of merrymaking, but a once-in-a-lifetime event that we recall every year and hopefully everyday of our lives.  It is the story of God's wrath and punishment turned to forgiveness and love.  It is the story of everyday miracles of love, healing, and growth.  And Jesus caused that miracle to happen by becoming man.

We haven't felt this in a long while.  All we thought is that Christmas is an annual activity of going to malls, buying gifts, and eating good food.  We haven't realized that our world is so wounded we have just covered our wounds with more wounds.

In the gospel, Jesus praised the messenger, John the Baptist, who prepared for His coming, although at this point, people still didn't recognize the presence of the redeemer.  But perhaps we can correct this situation.  How do we become Jesus' messengers?

First, know the message

We cannot become messengers unless we know what the message is.  It is ultimately our freedom from sin and new life in Christ.

Second, know the sender of the message

Be close to Jesus and know what He stands for.

Third, know to whom the message is to be delivered

A lot of people don't know they are the recipients of the message.  New life is upon them in Jesus.

Know the message, the sender, and the recipient of the message.  Finally, the medium is the message.  By our lives of conversion we can actually deliver the message of Jesus starting with our children.