The focus of today’s gospel-reading is the self-effacing, humble baptism of Jesus, an action that he chose as his way of identifying deeply with the very people whose lives he would set out to transform by revealing to them God’s love for them, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

The Magi represent for all of us the wisdom that recognises human life to be a journey taken in search of the One who calls us beyond ourselves into faithful service; the One before whom we are prepared to kneel, and to whom we offer the best of our gifts, flawed and unworthy though they be, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

We might “lose” Jesus by distancing ourselves from him or by locking him out of our lives. But let’s not forget that he continues to make his presence felt in the kindness, love, forgiveness and compassion of the people we encounter every day. Sometimes we have to be jolted into realising that the goodness of other people, and indeed, our own goodness, reflect the goodness of God and the goodness of Jesus whose coming among us we celebrate at Christmas, reflects Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

The mystery of God’s becoming one of us in the person of Jesus is worthy of frequent and deep contemplation. What is well-nigh incredible about it is that the love it expressed for humankind was given unconditionally, writes Christian Brother Julian McDonald.

This Sunday’s gospel-reading is an invitation to us to stop and ponder what is calling for change in our own hearts. There will be no possibility of change if we think there is no reason to change. If we are happy that the geography of our hearts needs no maintenance or alteration, then we will stay in our ruts. But perhaps we may need to do something to open a pathway by which God can find a way into our hearts as we prepare for Christmas.