GROW: My understanding of prayer changed when I read St. Teresa of Calcutta's statement that says, "I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things." Prayer is not an incantation that can change the will of God. It is the act of raising our hearts and minds to God, and of opening ourselves — our will, our understanding, our joys, and our sorrows — to be sanctified. The prophet Isaiah seems to be saying something similar in the first reading.

GROW: There have been many times when I have experienced “imposter syndrome” in my work, where I doubt my own ability. In these times, I often looked to others to try to determine if I was doing enough. But instead of giving me the validation and encouragement I was seeking, this act of comparison frequently led to dissatisfaction. I began to wish I was more like others — more outgoing, more disciplined, more organized. But who I am and the gifts that I have to offer are exactly what I am being called to give in my vocation.

GROW: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For most of my life, any time I have heard these words of Jesus, the emphasis has always been on “Repent.” Recently, I’ve started to pay more attention to the second half of Jesus’ proclamation: “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Through his coming into our world and the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus’ reign has begun.

GROW: I have struggled when doing work that feels unseen. Has anyone noticed that the floors were mopped today? Do my students care about the feedback I provide on their writing? Does my supervisor notice the extra time I put into my work? In today’s Gospel we hear John the Baptist announcing Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” John has been preparing for the coming of Christ and now that Jesus has arrived, his role is to step aside and encourage his followers to move their gaze toward Christ, the Messiah.

GROW: We hear in today’s Gospel that at the moment of Jesus’ baptism, “a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” We can hear these words as a simple proclamation of who Jesus is – the beloved Son of God – but also as a proclamation of who we are called to be: the beloved adopted sons and daughters of God. I sometimes forget that I am also called beloved.

GROW: Have you ever had a moment where you’ve been so joyful that your heart “throbbed and overflowed”? (Is. 60:5) Perhaps this prompt might call to mind moments we have been chosen or noticed, especially when we otherwise felt sidelined or forgotten. (Imagine expecting to be picked last for the team, only to be someone’s first choice!) Today’s first reading speaks of a moment like that. While the nations of the earth are shrouded in darkness, God shines his light and glory on Jerusalem, and all the nations come streaming to her bearing precious tributes.

In his Angelus address on the Feast of the Holy Family in 2001, St. John Paul II shared this with those gathered: “If we aspire to a deeper understanding of Jesus' life and mission, we must draw close to the mystery of the Holy Family of Nazareth to observe and listen.” Following in the footsteps of the Holy Family in today’s Scripture, we find ourselves in quiet Bethlehem, just after the departure of the Magi. The angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, this time with a warning:

Throughout my life, I have had a litany of requests for God. I have asked for mundane and ultimately inconsequential favors and also for guidance in much more important matters. But I have often hesitated to ask for the deepest desires of my heart. Those requests feel too big, too impossible, and possibly too selfish – as though asking these things would take away from God’s ability to provide for others. But in thinking this way, I am putting limits on a limitless God. In today’s first reading, the Lord speaks to Ahaz and tells him to ask for a sign – “let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!”

One morning, I woke up feeling exhausted after a fitful night of sleep. I was achy and generally under the weather. Despite this, I made a to-do list because the day’s work still needed to be accomplished. I was determined to not let this sickness interrupt my productivity, even though I knew I needed to rest. It occurred to me, then, that rest – and dependence on others and God – is sacred also. In today’s psalm, we hear of the many ways the Lord provides: The Lord gives, the Lord raises, the Lord loves, the Lord protects, the Lord saves.

Today’s Gospel is a challenging one, inviting us to consider how much spiritual fruit we are bearing in our lives. St. John the Baptist tells us, “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance,” reminding us that the depth of our conversion will be measured by our fruit. Speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, John says it is not enough to say that “‘We have Abraham as our father.’” If he were speaking today, John might put it this way: it’s not enough to say “I’m Catholic!” or “I belong to X Parish.”