on the threshold
"That is my joy, and it is complete." —John 3:29
Tomorrow, we will celebrate the grand finale of the Christmas season, the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. This day can be a turning point in our lives. "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love Him" (1 Cor 2:9).
Because we stand on the threshold of such amazing grace, the evil one will try to rob us. Some controversy may arise (see Jn 3:25), or we may be tempted to envy someone's success (see Jn 3:26). We must refuse to let the evil one use our pride to manipulate and rob us. With John the Baptizer, we should proclaim: "He (Jesus) must increase, while I must decrease" (Jn 3:30).
In these last hours of the Christmas season, we probably will enter into spiritual warfare and amazing grace. We need to pray for each other and for the whole body of Christ, the Church. "Anyone who sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, should petition God, and thus life will be given to the sinner" (1 Jn 5:16). "We have this confidence in God: that He hears us whenever we ask for anything according to His will" (1 Jn 5:14).
We are about to receive in an even deeper way the very life of God — "grace upon grace" (Jn 1:16, our transl). "My little children, be on your guard against idols" (1 Jn 5:21).
Prayer: Father, in this year dedicated to You, do a new thing in my life (see Is 43:19).
Promise: "We are in the One Who is true, for we are in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." —1 Jn 5:20
Praise: Walter received the gift of praising the Lord in tongues the night before he was to give a talk at a Life in the Spirit Seminar.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, June 11, 1998
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 20, 1998