Sunday, December 15th

Scripture

Zep3:14-18a
Is 12:2-6
Phil 4:4-7
Lk 3:10-16

Reflection

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” Lk 3:16

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist is asked three times, “What should we do?” Each time he replies with some version of “Behave in caring and just ways.” People are looking outside themselves for
direction, for wisdom.

According to John more is needed. He tells his followers that one mightier than he is coming who will “baptize (them) with the Holy Spirit and fire.” When we are truly baptized with the Holy Spirit, we
are conscious of our alignment with the part of us that is already one with God, the Christ in us.

Being baptized with fire is a transformative process. Growing into our Christ identity involves the necessary process of healing the places in us that are not of Christ, i.e. our ego drives, wounds, and judgments. When we live from the Christic within, like Jesus, we speak and act with inner authority. Our doing isn’t predicated on outside directives. Our doing flows from our being in God.

Prayer

Holy One, May we grow in the truth of who we are in Christ.
Grace us with compassion and courage
to do the inner work that is necessary for us
to more fully claim the Christ in us
and in every kind of neighbor. Amen.

Personal Challenge

Contemplate on Thomas Merton’s quote:
“Advent is the beginning of the end of all, in us,
that is not yet Christ.”

Bridget Sperduto, CSJ Associate
Bend, OR