IDENTITY CHECK

Monday in the Week Before the Epiphany
Jn 1:19-28

We sometimes find our selves proud to be identified with somebody. There is no wrong with that except that unless that ‘somebody’ is Jesus we are bound to be unhappy. St. Paul the Apostle said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God” (Gal 6:14-16).

At the start of another year, John the Baptist clarifies his identity. “I am not the Christ. I am, as Isaiah prophesied: a voice that cries in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord” (Jn 1:20 and 23), declares John. And he does not simply declare it; he declares it publicly! To declare one’s identity publicly shows that he who declares is not ashamed of who he says he is but is takes pride in the truth of who he claims to be.

At the beginning of a new year, John reminds us about something we easily forget as we go through each day of the year: Identify your self with Jesus and be proud about it! As disciples of the Lord, we can find our fulfillment, our peace, our joy only in persevering in our relationship with the Lord. Our identity is deeply rooted in Christ. We are who we are in relation to Jesus. We have to discover our identity with Jesus more and more each day. That identity of ours should be manifested in our day-to-day life. Unless we do so, we shall have no joy, no peace, and no fulfillment in everything we do and claim to be.

There are people who often fall into the trap of taking pride in being identified with the rich, the famous, and the powerful. Then they pretend to be rich, famous, and powerful too, but in the end, they become poorer, derided, and weaker. Why? Because they become slaves of those with whom they identify themselves. Jesus alone enriches, enhances, and empowers the identity of every man and woman.

Be happy. Be identified with Jesus. Be at peace. Be related to Jesus. Be holy. Be like Jesus.