Jesus's Growth in Maturity of My Heart

 Theme "Jesus' growth in maturity of my heart" 

John proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (MK 7, 1-11)

O Lord – Open my lips and my heart

In those days (Mon,Tues, Wed, and the passage we have listened to), the gospel walked us through how John the Baptist related to and spoke about Jesus. Newly,  since Jesus begins his mission, (I perceive a great sigh of maturity) a sign of maturity - He came to John the Baptist, I can say that Jesus revealed himself. It was a sign of significant growth for me to read and dwell on this. "He must increase and I must decrease" 

In the Christmas season and particularly in Christmas celebration – look at the manger I see that - "A child Jesus has been given to me”. Things must be done to raise this infant (I have to increase/nurture the infant child). If I have a loud voice, I must soften/moderate it so my son can sleep well. If the atmosphere in the house is too stuffy/closed, I need to open the window to make room for the child to grow. Even if the dogs bark or make noise, I must let go to keep the infant sleeping and growing. If the air is contaminated, I can plant a tree to receive some fresh air. The focus is on the child's development. Let’s take a look at the manger once more time, The infant child Jesus is not a separation, but rather closely engaged in my heart. 

My dear brothers, you know that the kid I called is none other than Jesus. Jesus, the infant, is in my heart, and my dispositions are continuously alternating. Sometimes noisy, sometimes gentle, sometimes stuffy, sometimes windy, sometimes polluted, sometimes fresh. In those, the sacraments helped me in transforming. 

Involve in my religious journey. Initially, a child is being raised. As the conditions of my heart alternate, I come to grow through periods, in each stage of formation, the windows were opened to me by grace, people in collaboration with my effort, and openness. I also grow in my relationship with the infant Jesus; this relationship is not understood as "knowing"; it does not imply that I grasp the concept of knowing God in some context, but rather that I allow God to mold, transfer, and lift me in the mystery of religious life. 

At this point, I'd like to cite John the Baptist: "He must increase, I must decrease." To enlarge or raise the child Jesus in my heart, I must first grow myself as I am using the metaphor: soften my voice if it is too loud, open the window if it is too closed, and plant trees if my heart is polluted.

"He must increase and I, too, must increase him in my heart" 

January 6, 2024, Joseph Nguyen Le The Vuong, MSC

Cu Mấm