Recognizing the Presence of Jesus

January 2, 2025 // Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 1:19-28

Reflect on the Word// 

I impatiently tapped on the steering wheel and stared at the numerous red tail lights ahead of me. As I sat in traffic, my mind was going over the list of numerous things I had to get done that day. As traffic started to clear, I was nearing the offramp for one of our local churches and I felt a small voice say, Will you come visit Me? 

I responded, Lord, You know I love You, but I just don’t have time. I’m already stressed out and adding another item to my list will only make it worse. But I could feel His Sacred Heart still tugging at me. I sighed. Fine. I’ll stop.

As I sat in the church before the tabernacle, guilty tears started falling down my cheeks. The Lord is here just loving me, but I was so wrapped up in my world, I didn’t recognize my need to spend time with Him first. 

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist is dealing with the skeptical Pharisees and church leaders. They continually question him, doubting his ministry, and John answers their questions one by one. Finally, John tells them, “There is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie” (John 1:26-27). His words cause me to pause and ask myself where I fail to recognize God. John declares the glory of the Messiah, yet the Pharisees are too blinded by their self-interest to recognize Him or sincerely seek Him. I want to live in the glory and follow His call, rather than get caught up in my own worries.

Too often, we have been like the Pharisees and not seen the presence of Jesus in our midst. We can get caught up in our own little worlds and the circumstances we are dealing with, and we miss His whispers to our hearts. Our circumstances may not change, but when Jesus draws us to Himself, we’re no longer doing it all alone. Instead, He is there with us and loving us. 

Relate to the Lord // Today, make a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, either at daily Mass, before the tabernacle, or in Eucharistic Adoration.