This time of year we are all really busy with Christmas parties, shopping, getting gifts, traveling, organizing get-togethers… so much going on.
We read in Sunday’s Gospel: “The word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.” This story was 2000 years ago! What does this have to do with me in 2021? We read in John 1:14 that “The Word of God became flesh.” Who is the Word of God? The Greek word used in the original is “Logos”. The Word. Reason. The 2nd person of the Holy Trinity! He came into our world. He came into our reality 2000 years ago. And today? He wants to come into your world. He wants to come into our world in 2021.
Photo by Artiom Vallat on Unsplash
But John teaches where to encounter the word: in the wilderness. In some translations we read, “in the desert”. In the wilderness. Where do we find the wilderness in Florence? The wilderness is a place of abandonment, a place of freedom, a place without limits, a place with beauty, a place with fear, a place with obstacles, but a place above all of nature, creation, God’s creation, a place of silence.Ooo! Silence! Anything but silence! Silence leaves us with our own thoughts, our own hearts, our own ideas, our own pains, our own wounds, with ourselves! Anything but silence. And yet, John teaches us that it is in silence, in the wilderness, in the desert that we encounter the word of God.
My challenge for you this week is to make space and time for 5 mins. of silence a day. Make time daily for peace, freedom, to encounter yourself, to encounter the word, logos, reason, to encounter God.
Have a wonderful week!
If you need anything, never hesitate to ask me.
God bless you and your loved ones, Fr. Kramer Cameron, LC