Episode Transcript
[00:00:12] Speaker A: Welcome to the Blessed Sacrament Homilies podcast where our mission is to help everyone recognize and experience the presence of God. We hope you are nourished and encouraged by the Word. Thank you for joining us.
[00:00:26] Speaker B: The Lord be with you and with your Spirit.
[00:00:29] Speaker C: A reading from the Holy Gospel According.
[00:00:30] Speaker B: To John Glory to you, O Lord.
[00:00:34] Speaker C: John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward.
[00:00:37] Speaker B: Him and said, behold the Lamb of.
[00:00:41] Speaker C: God who takes away the sins 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.
[00:01:30] Speaker B: With the Holy Spirit.
[00:01:32] Speaker C: Now I have seen and testified that.
[00:01:36] Speaker B: He is the Son of God.
The Gospel of the Lord.
[00:01:41] Speaker A: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:01:45] Speaker C: In the best case scenario, people should be able to recognize in any of.
[00:01:51] Speaker B: Us that strive to be disciples of Jesus, certain traits, certain things that are identifiers of who we are.
[00:02:03] Speaker C: If we are people that are generous, that's one.
[00:02:09] Speaker B: If we are a people that is patient and compassionate, that is one.
If we are a people that shares mercy with one another, that's one.
[00:02:24] Speaker C: And if people can recognize unconditional love.
[00:02:29] Speaker B: Coming from us, that's one.
[00:02:33] Speaker C: But I can't help but think that right now, more than any other, what.
[00:02:38] Speaker B: Our world needs to see in us.
[00:02:41] Speaker C: The trait that will not only identify.
[00:02:45] Speaker B: Us as his disciples, but also will strengthen everybody in the world, is if we allow hope to be one of those identifiers.
[00:02:59] Speaker C: Because it is easy to see that there is.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: A despair, a sadness that seems to be becoming more and more prevalent.
People are nervous about their future.
People are struggling to see how peace will ever again prevail in the world.
[00:03:26] Speaker C: And it's easy for us to give.
[00:03:29] Speaker B: Up, to think that we are getting so close to not being able to fix things.
And never ever should we who call ourselves disciples give up hope.
[00:03:50] Speaker C: The reading from Isaiah was a message of hope proclaimed to a people that.
[00:03:55] Speaker B: Had struggled for a long time but would have recognized that God always remains faithful to them.
[00:04:06] Speaker C: The message of John the Baptist was one that God is fulfilling all that was prophesied.
That in Christ the promise and hope.
[00:04:19] Speaker B: Of the Old Testament is made manifest. In his presence.
[00:04:24] Speaker C: And both of those understandings are meant.
[00:04:26] Speaker B: To fill us every single day of our lives.
That we never give up hope.
But we have learned to trust that it's Christ's presence that redeems the world.
That without him, we can do nothing.
But with him, nothing is impossible.
We always have to be that beacon of hope for the world.
And in doing so, that's the only way that real change ever happens.
