Discipleship and 2006

First of all, belated Christmas greetings to MOJ contributors and readers. I apologize for not responding earlier but a combination of a month-long cold (probably a result of my flu shot) and assisting in a parish during the Christmas and New Year's Day season has kept me occupied these past several weeks.

However, during this time I have enjoyed reading many of the recent contributions to this site. After much reflection on how to respond and contribute in a fruitful manner, I concluded that one thing that might bring together a number of recent themes is how each of us as a member of the Church has been called to holiness and discipleship. We have just celebrated Christmas and have been reminded that God is with us. Regardless of our individual status as lay, religious, or clerical, each of us has a role to exercise in evangelizing a world that is desperate for holiness. The past year has again demonstrated that we human beings sometimes exercise our free will in a manner that is sinful and inconsistent with the call to holiness. At the same time, knowing that we are sinners, we turn to our merciful God seeking divine forgiveness which is there for the asking if the request is sincere. This is a powerful sign of hope in the future that God promises us.

With forgiveness and getting back on the straight path to God, we are rejuvenated to do his work in this world. And, there is much to do. Many of us are teachers, and we have been given the ongoing opportunity to renew not only ourselves but those whom we meet-- often colleagues and students--who are also beneficiaries of the call to holiness. In spite of the darkness generated by human sinfulness, God has given us all the chance once again to respond to the challenge made by John the Baptist in today's Gospel from St. John.

My hope-filled prayer for each of us in this new year is that our fidelity to discipleship will help guide not only ourselves but those whom we meet throughout the coming year.

RJA sj