Merry Christmas(tide)!
the Baptism of the Lord
Dear Friends,
Christmas greetings (yes, still)!
We're closing out our festive season this weekend. How fitting that we do so with the Baptism of the Lord.
Why is it fitting? Great question. More on that after the baptism scene from my favorite Jesus movie:
Jesus is baptized by John
Great, right?
Okay, so the feast is fitting because Jesus' baptism is an epiphany (along with the visit of the magi) we celebrate this season.
It's also fitting because, as this season draws to a close, we should be thinking about where we go from here.
In his baptism, Jesus picks up Israel's calling. He takes on Israel's mission to the world - to be a light to the nations - and he lives it to the end. We who are members of the Body of Christ likewise take on his mission. We are made to be a light to the world, as our parish motto and mission remind us.
The long and short of it is that God wants to love the world through us. The task is tremendous, but we - through and with and in Jesus - can rise to the challenge!
Christ's Peace,
Father Daniel
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
Preparing for Mass?
Check out this weekend's readings:
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Baptism of Christ by Giotto di Bondone, c. 1305