Jesus told his disciples that in difficult times that were coming, they should not prepare how to defend themselves. The Spirit would give them the words they would need. In the same way, sometimes we need to empty our own hearts of the words we have prepared to say and let God speak through us.
Jesus told his disciples that they are to be the salt of the earth and lamps on a lampstand. Thus, we are called to bring the light of Christ to everyone around us that is struggling with darkness, or to allow others to shine their light on us if we are in darkness.
Jesus told his followers that if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. He did not want us to take this literally, but he does want us to take it seriously, and to ltry to let go of the things that lead us into sin.
On the night before he died, John's Gospel tells us that Jesus left his disciples with words of comfort, faith, hope, promise, and affirmation. These words can bring us comfort in our afflictions today.
John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. But, as lambs are both peaceful and sacrificed, we ask that God might give us peace in the face of the challenges we will find in this coming year.
