Becoming agents of transformation
In defining his ministry in 2 Corinthians, St. Paul says: "God…commanded light to shine out of the darkness, which has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." We find the glory of God in the face or in the person of Jesus Christ. We experience the presence of God through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
We don't have to run from place to place to find the glory of God. God's glory isn't found in one person's ministry. We find His glory in the person of Jesus Christ. We stay in His presence through faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, it is necessary that we know who Christ is. It is also important that we become aware of his powerful presence in our lives.
In fact, in John 1:19-28, John the Baptist's awareness of his own identity emerges from his awareness of who Christ is and how he is related to Christ. Christ is the Lord and John saw himself as the voice preparing the way for the Lord. In other words, knowing who Christ is helps John recognize who he is and who he is not.
As we move into a New Year, it is necessary that we ask ourselves these questions: How is the knowledge of Christ helping us to recognize who we are and what we are to do? In relation to the Lord, who am I? Is it a voice, a mirror, a prophet or a servant-leader?
As members of the pilgrim Church, we must be mindful of the fact that we cannot force the presence of God into other people's lives. We are only agents of Transformation. Our task is to prepare the way like John the Baptist. But as we prepare the way, it is important that we "be ourselves." In fact, God wants us to be ourselves but not the self our ego want us to be and not the self the world wants us to be. Rather, the self God had in mind when he created each one of us.
Therefore, let us not be overwhelmed by the things of this passing world. Rather, let us seek to know God from 'deep within' and speak about Him in a 'passionate way'. In the words of Matthew Kelly, "the best way to speak about God is to thrive in the life he calls us to live."