What is your relationship with Jesus? In some ways, this is not a Catholic question; it can seem too evangelical. In a deeper sense, this is a very Catholic question.
Today's Gospel describes the Baptism of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Rather than a heavenly voice declaring Jesus to be God's beloved Son, it is the human voice of John the Baptist that affirms Jesus to be the Son of God. John's relationship with Jesus enabled him to point out, to witness to the presence of Jesus for others.
Our prayerful reflection today invites us to see how we are called to be John the Baptist in pointing and leading others to experience Jesus in their lives. It is our own relationship with Jesus that enables us to share the light of Christ.
As we know, we cannot share what we do not have. We need to experience the light of Christ within our own spirit so that we share Christ with others. May John the Baptist be our model in leading others to the Lord.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
The Baptism of the Lord -- what part of the mission of Jesus have we embraced in our daily living?
Today we celebrate the Lord's Baptism by John in the River Jordan. The Baptism of Jesus clearly points to his identity and mission as he begins his public ministry. As Jesus was coming up from the waters of baptism, he heard the voice of His Father saying: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." His identity is that He is the Father's beloved Son.
The mission of Jesus is expressed very well in the first Scripture reading from the prophet Isaiah: "I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness." The mission of Jesus is to serve, to love, and to proclaim the Gospel of Good News to one and all.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, may we be recommissioned with the grace of our own baptism. As the community of the baptized, we celebrate our baptismal identity and mission as well. As with Jesus, we are God's beloved sons and daughters. Our mission is to share in the mission of Jesus. We are called to serve, to give of ourselves, and to love as Jesus loved. We are called to give witness to the love of Jesus in our family and in our world.
On this feast of the Lord's Baptism, we ask ourselves what part of the mission of Jesus have we embraced in our daily living? As a parish community, how are we better together in proclaiming and giving witness to the mission of Jesus in our lives?
The mission of Jesus is expressed very well in the first Scripture reading from the prophet Isaiah: "I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness." The mission of Jesus is to serve, to love, and to proclaim the Gospel of Good News to one and all.
As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, may we be recommissioned with the grace of our own baptism. As the community of the baptized, we celebrate our baptismal identity and mission as well. As with Jesus, we are God's beloved sons and daughters. Our mission is to share in the mission of Jesus. We are called to serve, to give of ourselves, and to love as Jesus loved. We are called to give witness to the love of Jesus in our family and in our world.
On this feast of the Lord's Baptism, we ask ourselves what part of the mission of Jesus have we embraced in our daily living? As a parish community, how are we better together in proclaiming and giving witness to the mission of Jesus in our lives?
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Epiphany Sunday
Who are the magi that arrived from the East? The magi are searchers, seekers. They symbolize the restless human spirit. We are the magi who are searching and seeking for an encounter with the Lord, a deeper relationship with Jesus in 2014.
Like the magi, we need the assistance of the star to discover the Lord. Who or what are the stars of our life who overwhelm us with joy and lead us to the Christ child. Thanks be be God for the people in our lives who overwhelm us with joy. The Epiphany story is that the magi followed the star that was discovered in the midst of darkness. So too for us in the darkness of our struggles, crosses, and anxieties, may we recognize the star that can lead us to the Lord. When we have open hands and a trusting heart, the people who love us will be the star that overwhelms with joy.
We don't need to go to the Bethlehem crib to discover the Christ child; we need only to look to the neighbor next door. In celebrating this Feast of the Epiphany, may the story of the Epiphany be our story as well.
Like the magi, we need the assistance of the star to discover the Lord. Who or what are the stars of our life who overwhelm us with joy and lead us to the Christ child. Thanks be be God for the people in our lives who overwhelm us with joy. The Epiphany story is that the magi followed the star that was discovered in the midst of darkness. So too for us in the darkness of our struggles, crosses, and anxieties, may we recognize the star that can lead us to the Lord. When we have open hands and a trusting heart, the people who love us will be the star that overwhelms with joy.
We don't need to go to the Bethlehem crib to discover the Christ child; we need only to look to the neighbor next door. In celebrating this Feast of the Epiphany, may the story of the Epiphany be our story as well.
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