l. c. s. g.
"What are you looking for?" —John 1:38
One of the first commands Jesus gives us is "Look" (Jn 1:36, NAB). We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the Beginning and the End of our faith (Heb 12:2).
After we have had a good look at Jesus, He commands us to come (Jn 1:39). He invites us: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest" (Mt 11:28).
When we have decided to come to Jesus on His terms, He next invites us to stay, that is, abide with Him (Jn 1:39). Only by staying with Jesus, abiding in Him, will we bear fruit abundantly (Jn 15:5).
Abiding in Jesus, we go forth as Andrew did, seek out others, and tell them "we have found the Messiah" (Jn 1:41). Jesus commands us to go and "make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19).
We begin the Christian life when we look, come, stay, and go in obedience to the Lord. As we begin the new year, we must in this Christmas season look more intently at Christ, come and adore Him, stay with Him from the manger to the cross, and go where we've never gone before to witness for Jesus. In doing this, we begin a great year and a deeper life in the Lord. Look; come; stay; go.
Prayer: Father, may I "stand beside the earliest roads, ask the pathways of old" (Jer 6:16).
Promise: "The Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil." —1 Jn 3:8
Praise: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton had five natural children and countless supernatural children.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Mission Impossible, or on audio AV 46-1 or video V-46.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend David L. Zink, June 12, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2002