Sunday Jan. 19, 2014 - Do you know Him?

Gospel jn 1:29-34

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

“I did not know him…”

Why didn’t St. John the Baptist “know” Jesus, they were related after all, first cousins in fact. Well, the type of “knowing” that St. John the Baptist is talking about is not the same kind of “knowing” that we understand.  For most of us, “knowing” means to be acquainted with someone; we know where the person is from, who their family is, and the skills the person possesses.  But St. John the Baptist is referring to a more profound “knowing”, the kind of intimate and mysterious knowledge that can only be revealed by the Holy Spirit.  It was through the Grace of God and the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit that St. John the Baptist is able to “know” his cousin as more than part of his human family, but as truly the Seat of Divine Wisdom, the Word Incarnate, the Savior of the World, the Lamb of God: our Lord Jesus Christ.  My brothers and sisters in Christ; do you know Jesus?  Do you really know Him?  Do you rely on your own intelligence to know God, or do you submit your heart, mind, and soul to allow God to reveal himself to you? Sisters and brothers, in order to truly “know” Jesus we must allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit; let us go out this week and truly submit ourselves to brought to our Lord!  You just may be surprised at where you meet Him; especially in the weak and poor of this world.  Blessings. Fr. Steven