In times when the Word of the Lord is rarely heard, and revelation no longer familiar… (1 Samuel 3)

When we seem stuck in a roiling pit of noise… (Psalm 40)

We need someone to cut through the noise, to prepare us to be raised up, to be present and attentive to God’s saving Word for us, to be a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:13-20).

John the Baptist makes straight paths for the Lord (Matthew 3:3). 
He does not need to say much to disciples already versed in Scripture, steeped in Psalms, expectant in the prophecies for the Saviour who will bring peace and fulfillment beyond anything the world can offer (John 14:27). 

“Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:36). 

The disciples follow after Jesus. 

“What do you seek?” (John 1:38).

The question is for us, when we somehow have the time to place ourselves attentively or at least at rest in the presence of the Lord, as Samuel did. What do you seek? Help. Healing. Meaning. Purpose. Truth. The ability to trust. The ability to love, not worldly love, but love as God loves, for God is Love (1 John 2:15; 4:16). Ultimately, the Lord our God is the only answer to anything we seek, that will actually fulfill us in this life unto eternal Life.

Who could be our John the Baptist, to prepare the Way of the Lord for us? To remind us, or teach us the Word of the Lord, about the Lord’s wondrous plans for us, which none can match (Psalm 40).

In the Gospel, it is our family.
‘Andrew found his brother and told him, “we have found the Messiah, the Saviour, Jesus the Christ, the anointed one of God.” He brought him to Jesus.’

The Christian family fosters our vocation, our calling, to our true fulfillment (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1656- ). ‘The Christian home is the first school of Christian life, and a school for human enrichment. Here one learns endurance, the joy and dignity of work, fraternal love, generous, repeated forgiveness, and above all, divine worship in prayer and offering of one’s life.’

‘Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and discover their vocation as children of God. Children in turn contribute to the growth and holiness of their parents, in the Charity of Christ’ (CCC # 2226).

Our family brings us to Jesus. To the Messiah, our Saviour. In times when the Word of the Lord is rarely heard and God’s revelation is no longer familiar, our family brings us to Jesus.