Feast of the Epiphany
by Frank D.B. Savadera, SJ
From
the letter of John, we read: “We receive
from Him what we ask.” Can we be more
clear about what we ask? Is this what we
really need or want? Do we simply pray
about and ask for selfish things? Can
being a Jesuit or a priest be selfish and self-centered?
We
receive from Him what we ask. But what
we ask for will need to even be clarified or better yet, purified. Can we be more clear about what we actually
need and want? Oftentimes, we do not
even know what we need or want.
Oftentimes, what we need – what we want, we simply equate to what we can
ACQUIRE for ourselves. Isn’t this
so? What if God tells us: What you need right now is that which you
cannot acquire! So what precisely do we
truly need to ask?
I
think this is why the letter of John is important: DO NOT TRUST EVERY SPIRIT BUT TEST THE
SPIRITS to see whether they belong to God.
And how do we know the Spirit of God?
The Letter of John says: Every
spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God. How do we understand this now? GOD WORKS IN THE FLESH .. in our struggles
and ambivalence, in our doubts and uncertainties. How do we know the Spirit of God? By recognizing Jesus coming in the
flesh! He comes in the flesh! Can I experience Him? In my PRIDE, in my CONCEIT, in my BEING TOO
CERTAIN and SUFFICIENT, in my being ARROGANT?
Jesus comes to the flesh … in my INSECURITIES, my FEARS and
RESTLESSNESS. Isn’t it true then that we
can find Jesus coming in the FLESH … and whoever believes so … BELONGS TO GOD.
Friends,
this is how we know the Spirit of TRUTH against the SPIRIT of DECEIT. If we acknowledge Jesus coming in the FLESH …
in our own experiences of DARKNESS … then LIGHT is EASIER and even BRIGHTER to
glean … isn’t it. The Gospel therefore
is correct: those who sit in their own
darkness will eventually see GREAT LIGHT.
Those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light will arise. Brothers,
we need this light so much like Jesus, we become MORE FREE to preach and
proclaim the Gospel … helping cure every sickness and illness among the people
of God. What therefore do we ask for our
selves this New Year?
Can
we firstly be more conscious of the SELFISHNESS of what we ask? Can we ask for the COURAGE to TEST the
SPIRITS if they come from the Lord? Can
we have the CONFIDENCE to recognize Jesus coming even at crucial times of our
personal weaknesses and shedding LIGHT.
