Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the child who “grew and became strong in the spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.” After all his years of preparation, John did not come forth in a blaze of self-seeking glory. Despite attracting many of his own disciples, he continually pointed the way to Jesus. So too, are we called to do the same as disciples of the Kingdom. But we must first gain an interior knowledge of the Lord by turning our gaze from the messenger in order to “accompany Jesus around Galilee.”
We are invited to walk with Jesus in prayerful contemplation of his person, teachings, and healings so as to know his words, thoughts, feelings, and desires. And to know him from within ourselves. In this process we discover a personal friend. He is someone with whom we want to walk through life. Far from a romantic ideal, it provokes an ongoing transformation. What does “accompanying Jesus around Galilee” look like?
Galilee is a paradoxical place of beauty and purification. The incredibly hot summer months turn hillsides into an ugly, dry, and barren looking countryside. But wait… that passes. The chilly winter rains replenish the apparently barren soil. Lush greenery creeps its way through the dead brush. Patience for springtime rewards spectators with splendid colors of purple, red, and yellow wildflowers splattered upon the hilly landscapes.
The seasons in Galilee are like the seasons of our spiritual journey. Dryness purifies the soul. Showers of blessings germinate the seeds of grace. And faith “basks” in the certainty of God’s divine providence, giving birth to the flowers of virtue. The dynamic of our cooperative dance with God’s love and mercy blossoms into friendship with Jesus. We accompany Jesus and let him accompany us as we hear the echo of John the Baptist, “He must increase. I must decrease.”
In this process, we may feel we are sliding backwards, then moving forward, ascending ever higher and falling deeper. Surprises abound. We are exasperated at our continued weaknesses. Astonished when we experience a strength not our own. Flabbergasted by new manifestations of egotism. And yet, delighted when we discover that, through it all, we have truly fallen in love with the Lord.
Your Friend in Christ,
Jennifer Ristine
Jennifer lives in the formation center for the consecrated women of Regnum Christi in Madrid, Spain, and is the author of “Mary Magdalene, Insights from Ancient Magdala” and “Nine Days with Mary Magdalene.”
