The magi originally intended to report back to Herod about Jesus. However, after encountering the child and receiving a warning in a dream not to return to Herod, they chose a different path home. It’s hard not to be changed after encountering Jesus.
Jesus came to bring transformation to the world. He once said, “Do you think I have come to establish peace on Earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” His message challenged cultural norms and comfort zones. Too often, people say only what others want to hear, but the world needs truth—and the truth can be hard to accept.
Take Saul, for example. He was a zealous persecutor of Christians until a blinding vision of the risen Christ changed his heart. After that encounter, Saul was baptized, took the name Paul, and became one of Christianity’s greatest missionaries. The Bible is full of stories of people transformed by encounters with Jesus: the blind received sight, the paralyzed walked, the possessed were freed, and sinners repented and changed their ways.
St. Augustine of Hippo’s life tells a similar story of transformation. Once living a life of indulgence, including an ongoing relationship outside marriage and a persistent struggle with lust, Augustine had a turning point in a garden one day. He heard a child’s voice singing, “Take and read, take and read.” Taking it as a divine sign, he picked up a Bible and just happened to open to Romans 13:13-14: “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Those words pierced his heart, and Augustine went on to become one of the most influential theologians in Christian history.
As we grow closer to Jesus, we must be open to change. Eventually, something has to give. We cannot cling to selfish and sinful habits while expecting to maintain a strong relationship with Him. While Jesus is always ready to forgive us when we repent, a deeper relationship with Him requires a willingness to let go of our sins.
This reminds me of the Superman comics. One of the villains, Doomsday, has the unique ability to regenerate and become immune to whatever last defeated him. If heat vision takes him out, it won’t work again. We, too, can adopt a similar mindset—learning from our past failures and growing stronger with each encounter.
Sin wounds us—venial sin weakens us, and mortal sin kills us spiritually. But we have access to spiritual healing and resurrection through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Still, we shouldn’t become like the proverbial dog returning to its vomit, repeating the same sins over and over again. Instead, we must learn from our sins, recognize their damage, and take steps to prevent them in the future.
If we saw a real-life threat to ourselves or our loved ones, we’d do everything possible to neutralize it. Sin and temptation are threats just as real, and they deserve our full attention. We must identify our spiritual weaknesses, find the right antidotes, and build habits that protect us. Just as vaccines shield us from disease, strategies rooted in prayer, accountability, and discipline can make us resilient against temptation.
Jesus came to bring change to the world, and we are called to do the same. Every day, we face a choice: bring light into the world or contribute to darkness. We can grow closer to Jesus through intentional effort, or we can drift further away through neglect. So, do we have what it takes to make a lasting change for the better this year?
