Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-25) - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Dearest Goddaughter, 

We often hear in Scripture that Mary kept certain things related to her Son, Jesus, in her heart and reflecting on them. One of those things is in today's Gospel when John the Baptist sees Jesus walking by and says to everyone present: "Behold, the Lamb of God." John the Baptist is drawing attention to the Jesus, the Messiah, and even allows his followers, including Andrew (the brother of Peter) and John, to seek out Jesus and come after him. What faith! What humility!

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest raises the Body of Christ and the Precious Blood and says these words: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” The faithful responds, saying: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Indeed, we are unworthy but our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ nevertheless comes to redeem us and calls us to himself because he loves us as the apple of his eyes. Knowing that we are unworthy should motivate us to strive for holiness and saintliness in our lives so that we may one day stand before Christ in heaven as "good and faithful" servants, worthy of the sacrifice of our Lord on the Cross for us.

And what can we do to become holy? Let us listen to what Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (whose feast we celebrate today) tells us: ". . .the first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is his will." Yes, to become holy, we must discern God's will and ask for the grace and courage to follow His will for us, just as John the Baptist's life always pointed to Christ, ours must do the same.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 1 Jn 3:7-10 and Jn 1:35-42 (below).

. . .

John was standing with two of his disciples,

and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,

“Behold, the Lamb of God.”

The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,

“What are you looking for?”

They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),

“where are you staying?”

He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying,

and they stayed with him that day.

It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter,

was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.

He first found his own brother Simon and told him,

“We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ.

Then he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said,

“You are Simon the son of John;

you will be called Cephas,” which is translated Peter.