Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious

Gospel: Jn 1:35-42

In today’s readings, we are reminded to ask ourselves the question that Jesus asked of his first disciples:  “What are you looking for? (1:38)   

As a child, the Christmas season was about looking for presents under the tree.  Oh, the joy of finding 1-2 presents in our humble household that had little money but a lot of love.  An orange, a small doll, and candy were all treasured gifts. I knew about the baby Jesus but I did not yet truly know him.

As I grew older, Christmas became a time to celebrate the greatest gift of all, the birth of Jesus.   Christmas, especially when we lived so far away, brought us together and provided us the healing power of love during the season.

What was I looking for then?  The unity of family.  The healing power of love. The joy of giving.  The celebration of the birth of Jesus. 

Now, after many decades of life:  I ask myself:  What am I looking for?  What do I long for?  What am I working towards? What do I truly want out of this life?   I also ask myself the next question in this Gospel reading: “Rabbi (which means Teacher), where do you stay?”   (1:38)

These two questions are critical to our formation as followers of Jesus.  What am I looking for?  An inclusive community of people who love one another and respect and celebrate the differences of all who inhabit this earth.  That is the greatest gift of all.  To “love one another as I have loved you” is the greatest message.  Love is a gift; inclusivity is a gift; celebration of each other is a gift; embracing differences are the gifts I now long for in this world. 

Now to the second question: “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus is perhaps one of the greatest teachers of all time.   He presents us with the most challenging questions, the most enduring challenges about how to live our lives.  Is Jesus in my heart?  How do I who claim to follow Jesus put this claim into action each and every day of my life.   I admit, I fail sometimes to love.  I harden my heart.  I protect my heart from those who may need my love the most----those whose lives I do not understand or want to know about-----especially those who are politically different from me.   So, Rabbi, where are you staying reminds me that Jesus needs to live in my heart, in my actions, in my words, in my deeds. 

If I long for peace on earth and love of our fellow human beings, then I must also let the love of Jesus live in my heart and in my actions.  That is the greatest Christmas miracle, the greatest gift of all---to truly follow Jesus---we need to follow his example of his radical love, his radical servanthood, his radical acceptance of all.  May we all celebrate this gift and these challenges every day of our lives.  Amen.

Dora Saavedra is an Associate Professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.