In this week’s Gospel, John the Baptist reveals his entire purpose for existing: to point the way to Jesus and reveal Him to Israel. As Christians, we all have the same purpose. Everything about us – the way we act, the things we say – should point to Jesus. When we meet someone, there should never be any doubt about what we believe. It should be as much a part of who we are as our name, appearance and personality.
The New Year is a great time to reflect on where you are at and make changes in your life. Think about your relationship with yourself. Do you take care of yourself? Do you treat yourself with respect in the way that you talk, dress and act? In order to be the best person we can be with others, we first have to become the best person we can be with ourselves. How can you improve yourself this year?
Think about the way you act around your friends and family. Would you consider yourself a good influence or a bad influence? Does what you do and say encourage them to be better? We often do not realize the impact we can have on others, but even something as simple as just listening or offering a kind word can make all the difference. This year, make a conscious effort to be a better influence on those around you.
We are all called to be prophets and make Christ known to those around us. Unless we take the time to really reflect on what that means, we will never truly become the person God is calling us to be. But this can only be accomplished through prayerful and consistent self-reflection. Only by looking internally at ourselves and our habits will we be able to truly understand what we are called to do. And when that happens, we too will be able to testify in all that we do that Jesus really is the Son of God.