Sabiduría y Fidelidad: El Camino hacia Jesús

The Magi’s story offers us a powerful example of being perfected in love through action-oriented faith. Though they came from different faiths, the Magi sought to understand the Scriptures, pursuing wisdom that led them to recognize who Jesus was. Their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh reveal the depth of their understanding of his identity.

Beyond these well-known gifts, there are other gifts embedded in this scene. The wise men gave the gift of their presence, traveling from afar to be fully present with Jesus as they entered his presence. They also gave the gift of their praise—grown men, kings, bowing low before a baby and declaring his worth. In turn, they point us to the greatest gift of all: the gift of God in Jesus Christ. May we follow their example, seeking him, praising him, and being fully present in his love as we are being made perfect in him.

Sabiduria a través del Amor

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s arrival seems almost instinctive, as though she blurted out her words without fully understanding where they came from. How did she know who Jesus was to be while He was still in Mary’s womb? Her words are a powerful example of the Holy Spirit working through her.

We often think of spiritual wisdom in terms of discernment or decision-making, yet the wisdom of the Holy Spirit is available to us at all times. This is a gift we can embrace by asking two questions: “Jesus, where are You?” and “What are You doing?”—followed by a desire to join in the Spirit’s work. Like Elizabeth, we need to invite such Spirit-led moments into our lives. With openness and expectation, we can receive this gift and allow ourselves to become vessels for God’s purposes, being made perfect in love.

Abandonados al Amor de Dios

Mary’s story is a profound invitation to grow in intimacy with the Lord through complete surrender. While the song Mary, Did You Know? ponders her awareness, Scripture shows us that Mary indeed knew.

As a young woman from a small Jewish town that clung to its faith and traditions amidst Roman influence, Mary understood the implications of her Jewish heritage and lineage. She heard and believed the message from the angel. Mary knew in her heart that she was highly favored, that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit, and that her child, Jesus, would be the Son of God, reigning forever. Her response—“Here I am, fully surrendered”—reveals the perfection of love through sacrifice and trust in God’s plan. What might our lives look like if we adopted Mary’s posture, setting aside our plans to fully embrace God’s will?

Llamados a la Santidad

La Gratitud Transforma: Volviendo a los Pies de Jesús

The spiritual journey is like an endurance sport, requiring focus, perseverance, and a willingness to shed what holds us back. It requires a clear goal and an unwavering motivation that you will choose over and over again, even when everything in you wants to quit. Hebrews reminds us of the “cloud of witnesses” along the sidelines, cheering us on—faithful ones like Abraham and Moses whose stories echo into our lives today. A sin “injury” can intuitively harm your race–– slowing you down by wounding your relationships with God and others. At the same time, there are things in our lives that, while not inherently sinful, function like unnecessary ankle weights—habits, distractions, or attachments that sap our energy and focus. To run the race with endurance, we must release both the sin that injures us and the weights that restrain us, giving it all to push through to the joy on the other side of the finish line.

A covenant is an agreement that defines a relationship between two or more parties, and its terms are crucial. In the Old Covenant, Israel’s relationship with God was conditional, requiring strict adherence to the law. Yet, because humans could not live up to this standard, it didn’t lead to the intended unity with God. Hebrews teaches us about a New Covenant, which comes with better promises and a better outcome, negotiated by the perfect mediator—Jesus. This New Covenant is a gift: it’s no longer based on our ability to uphold the law but on God’s promise to forgive and forget our sins. Unlike the old, which limited access to God through a hierarchical priesthood, the New Covenant is open to everyone, from the least to the greatest. With God’s law written in our hearts and minds, our responsibility is simply to receive it.