Is. 61:1-2A, 10-11; Ps. Lk1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thes. 5:16-24; Jn. 1:6-8, 19-28

“My soul rejoices in my God…because the spirit of the Lord is upon me”.  Today we rejoice because despite the sinfulness of our humanity his mercy has covered us “with a robe of salvation” through the waters of baptism.  In baptism we are given a divine purpose to know ourselves by, to live our divine image, and to be called sons and daughters of our God. 

“Who are you?” is the question posed to John the Baptist.  His response was first to be sure to clarify that he was not the Christ adding, “whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie”. He then identifies himself with scripture from Isaiah as “the voice crying out in the desert.”  When we enter the waters of baptism, we become a new creation with a divine purpose coming God.  How would we answer the question “who are you?”  In our human understanding we likely would answer the question by our birth name and some may even identify themselves as the son or daughter of our parent’s name. 

The Pharisees were seeking a name, a divine name from John.  John gave them a purpose for his being.  When we discover our purpose our path in life become clear in our call to serve God.  God provides the power to serve through the channel of his grace.  When we look to our blessed Mother Mary, she is often identified by many titles in the many ways she serves God.  The same is said of St. Joseph in the litany to St. Joseph.  Consider for a moment what stands out in our life in the many ways we serve our Lord.  What litany can be said of us? 

The other way to look at this is to ask ourselves “where does our passion lie and what does our soul rejoice in?”  If our passion and soul rejoice only in what serves our interests and needs then we remain apart from God, we “quench the Spirit” and God is still waiting for us return to him.  This is the struggle of the flesh and our own spirit.  The spirit is to discipline the flesh.  This is the primary test we face that we may be ready for what the world will bring us without fear. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon us and we give witness to our faith by our acts of service bringing God’s love, mercy, and justice.  Our life becomes adorned with the light of Christ and my soul rejoices.  We rejoice in the Lord’s coming even while we may endure hardship, suffering, pain, or persecution.  There is one among us who the world does not recognize but we recognize as Christ.  He has come into the world and continues to come to the souls who know how to cry out to him.  Christ is our battle cry who goes before us, with us, behind us, above us and lifts us up to the heavens. 

Amen.