Baptism of the Lord

The image of the river water reminds me of a preacher who, after a sermon on “demon alcohol” thundered: “If I had all the beer and whiskey in the world, I’d pour it into the river.” The song leader then announced, “Our next hymn is 'Shall we Gather at the River'.”

Today we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. In baptism, we are identified by God as belonging to a community of disciples of Jesus.

Baptism is not a tattoo or a hat: it's a transformative experience in which God abides in us and we abide in God. That’s our identity. God empowers us by his grace to be the best version of ourselves.

In this celebratory event, we renew our baptismal promises. The beginning of the new year is a perfect time. 

The word of God first takes us back to the sixth century before Jesus, to the Hebrew exile in ancient Babylonia (known today as Iraq). This passage is a song, about a “servant” who will be a light, a doer of justice, a liberator, a faithful keeper of God’s covenant. The early Christians saw in this “servant” Jesus, whose vocation was to proclaim our transcendent purpose: eternal life with God by living a god-like life here and now.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles describes Peter, fired up by the grace of God, proclaiming Jesus as God’s anointed One, the Messiah. And you and I should be fired up, witnessing to the Gospel by living a life of virtue: self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, courage, friendship, honesty, loyalty, and faith in God.

In the Gospel, John baptizes Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River. The power of God overwhelms Jesus, and fired up, Jesus begins his public ministry, proclaiming a new purpose for us, symbolized in a dove that suggests new beginnings.

John the Baptist dressed simply, ate simply. His vocation was clearly to point to Jesus as the Messiah. We might ask, by virtue of who we are and what we do, whether we reflect Jesus in our relationships with one another.

And what is John doing? He is baptizing. He’s inviting people to live a God-centered, other-centered life.

Now baptism is a rite of initiation into a world-wide community of disciples. 

Early candidates were often immersed in water. Stepping into the baptismal pool on one side and rising out on the other side symbolized a dying to a self-centered life and a rising to a God-centered life.

By the 11th century, baptism by the pouring of water over the head of the candidate became the common practice. We baptize children to emphasize that baptism is a gift from God, and not something we choose to have.

To understand baptism, we have to understand who we are in relationship to God. The Book of Genesis captures this. In the beginning, man and woman walked with God; they had friendship with God and one another. But somehow or other, they lost that friendship. Genesis describes very powerfully their fall. They hid from God; man blamed woman; earthly elements betrayed them.

Ever since, the human family has cried out for God’s friendship again.

So God became flesh. God, through Jesus by the power of the Spirit, re-establishes our friendship.

Baptism initiates us into a new community of fellowship and grace. This makes straight-forward demands upon us. The so-called 10 Commandments are really about freeing ourselves from attitudes and behaviors that undermine our relationship with God and one another.

The Ten Commandments say, very simply, that our God is all-mighty and all-present, a God of love; and our response to God’s love is gratitude.

This planet of ours, and the people on it, reflect the image of God. And so, every creation on this planet – God’s people especially -- is worthy of reverence.

God deserves our time. We take time to get in touch with God. This same God challenges us to live virtuous lives, e.g., faithfulness, truthfulness, generosity and respect for others. The Commandments underscore virtues we should practice every day.

And reflecting upon the baptism of Jesus, I invite us to renew our baptismal promises, to live as sons/daughters of God, to be a living gospel to others in this jubilee year of hope.

The Epiphany

The holidays are over. How many have made resolutions for 2025? I’m going to suggest only one!!!

As “Pilgrims of Hope” – the theme of this Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church – Perhaps the best resolution is to strive to focus on God's presence in our daily lives.    

Today we celebrate the Epiphany, from the Greek word meaning the manifestation or showing forth, of the child Jesus as the long-awaited messiah. 

We don’t really know who the "magi" were—perhaps wise men or astrologers or wealthy traders. We know that they were non-Jews who came from far, far away, guided by a mysterious bright star, to pay homage to this Jewish baby called Jesus.  

The word of God from Isaiah set the stage, taking us back to the sixth century before Jesus. The author refers to a new Jerusalem. A divine light will emanate from this “shining city on a hill” and all people will walk by this light. That phrase was one of Ronald Reagan’s signature phrases.

Christians see Jesus as this light who illuminates darkness, who shows the ultimate purpose of life: to be in close friendship with God and thereby show the glory of God through who we are and what we do.

St. Paul's letter to the Christian community at Ephesus outlines our future: we are coheirs to the kingdom of God, co-workers of Jesus in bringing about the fullness of the kingdom-a kingdom of peace, justice, truth and love. Jesus is indeed our guide: the pathway to eternal life; our bread who satisfies our spiritual hunger; our companion and beacon of hope.

In the Gospel are all the ingredients of a great story: exotic visitors, a wicked king, court intrigue, a mysterious star, precious gifts, a new child. The magi give homage with gold, frankincense and myrrh, highly symbolic gifts about the identity of this child.

Gold can symbolize kingship or divinity, the things of God; and the coin of this child’s heavenly realm are the virtues of self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, courage, perseverance, honesty, decency, respect and faith in God. Do we strive to make these virtues our own?

Frankincense with its wonderful fragrance and medicinal magic can symbolize healing, and this child came to heal wounds separating us from God and one another. We too are called to build bridges.

Myrrh can symbolize a burial embalmment, and this child, through his life/death/rising, re-established our relationship with God and designated us as co-heirs to God’s promise of eternal life.

This newborn messiah, completely human and divine, is the exemplar of what it means to be an authentic human being. That is why some ask themselves as they go about their daily routines: what would Jesus do in this or that circumstance?

With Jesus as our model, God empowers us, from an infinite number of possibilities, to become the best version of ourselves. But what is that? What is our essential purpose?

We are called to be in close friendship with God by living a holy life, every man and every woman, without exception, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background, career or calling in life.  

Holiness is allowing God to enter into the very fiber of our being so that God can enable us to do our best whatever the task.  To be true to our inner best self calls for a willingness to go the extra mile to make something “just right” because it’s the better thing to do. Yes, our goal is to become the best version of ourselves in all our decisions, small and great, that affect our work, career, family and social life, the rearing of children, relationships with others, and even our leisure time.   

Yes, with Jesus as our model, now is the time to renew ourselves spiritually, and to encourage others as well, as we begin a new year.  

A wise mystic observed this about his own life:

“I was a revolutionary when I was young, and my prayer to God was: ‘Lord, give me the energy to change the world.’

“As I approached middle age ... I changed my prayer to: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change all those who come into contact with me. Just my family and friends.’

“Now that I am old … I have begun to see how foolish I have been. My one prayer now is: ‘Lord, give me the grace to change myself, to become the best version of myself.’ If I had prayed this right from the start, I wouldn't have wasted my life.”

Now is indeed the time – as described in the word of God from Isaiah – to “Rise up in splendor” because our light has come. 

Time to celebrate with Paul who we are: “coheirs, members of the same mystical body and copartners” in continuing the work of Jesus. 

Time to “do him homage” like the magi, not lingering around a manger, but going forth to be missionary disciples of Jesus.

Yes, God has stepped forth into the world. Ask God to re-create ourselves, to  re-energize our life with God and with one another.

Yes, it's time to begin again, to manifest the best version of ourselves.  Amen.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas. I know of a couple who invited the entire family clan to dinner. And at the table, the mother turned to one of her youngsters and said, “Would you like to say the blessing.” The youngster replied, “I don’t know what to say?” “Just say what you’ve heard Mommy say,” the mother answered. And the youngster bowed his head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I invite so many to dinner?” Happily everyone laughed.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

The word of God first takes us back to the eleventh century before Jesus, an unstable era in Hebrew history. A woman, Hannah, prayed for a child. God heard her prayer. The parents then gave their child, Samuel, for God’s service in the shrine at Shiloh. Samuel grew up to be a great prophet with a significant role in ancient Israel. 

The word of God invites us to make our family needs known to God.

The letter of John speaks of God’s immense love for us. God has gifted us with divine status. We are his children, sons and daughters of God our Father, and our destiny is to be like God, to see God as God is. And we become like God, here and now, by striving to reflect godlike attitudes and behaviors.

In the Gospel, the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph made a pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. There, young Jesus astonished the rabbis with his wisdom.

On their way back Mary and Joseph suddenly realized Jesus was missing. But their anxiety turned into joy when they found him. 

This close-knit holy family went back home to Nazareth, where Jesus grew in wisdom and age and God’s favor. For twenty-some years, this family stuck together as Jesus grew. They fled to Egypt together. They lived in a backwater village and worked together at ordinary tasks. 

Joseph, tradition says, earned his loved ones’ daily bread with the skill of his hands. Mary baked and spun, carried water, and taught Jesus to pray. They lived a simple and natural human life. 

They did ordinary things extraordinarily well—that's the secret to holiness. And as in any family, Mary eventually waved goodbye to Jesus as he set off for his life’s mission. She experienced the empty nest!

Theirs was a holy family, and so too is ours—living together with joys and tensions, working together, playing and praying together. 

I think of a more recent true story. When diamond fever hit Africa, a man sold his farm and searched the continent, finding nothing. But the new owner found a strange-looking stone and placed it on his fireplace mantel. A visitor noticed it and shouted excitedly, “This is a diamond! One of the largest I’ve seen.” The farm was loaded with diamonds.

The point is this: some people don’t notice what they have at their own home. Some never see the “gems” in their own families. Stop and smell the roses. Cherish your family. Notice the gems all around you.

What sustained the holy family in Nazareth? And what sustains ours? I would suggest three virtues: faithfulness, courage, and prudence.

There’s no virtue more important than faithfulness for sustaining family life. Married couples are called to be open to new life, and to nourish and educate the children with whom God gifts them. To do this well, parents need to be faithful to each other and to their children. 

Faithfulness builds trust. Children trust that parents will always be there. We all need to know that someone loves us and will be there for us. Yes, sometimes parents show tough love for the good of a child. But we need the anchor of faithfulness in our ever-changing world.

Second, families need courage. William Bennett’s Book of Virtues presents the stories of David and Goliath, Susan B. Anthony, and Rosa Parks. Courage is about moral character: who we are at our core. It is an attitude that challenges us, despite our fears, to stand up for what is right and true and good. 

Many of us would name Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr, and Mother Teresa as courageous people. 

And we probably would include our parents. We have seen up close the sacrifices they’ve made for us. Commitment requires courage. Parental courage reaches a crescendo when children become teenagers. Parents can’t protect them from the many forces in society that can destroy people physically and morally. Children grow, and eventually parents must let them fly. Parenting, sustaining life, requires courage, always striving to do the right thing even when we’re not sure it’s right. 

And the third virtue for families is prudence: the instinct to seek the right thing to do. Prudence and courage go hand in hand. Parents must act amid the messiness of life, often forced to make decisions without clearly seeing all possible outcomes. And often decisions are not either/or but both/and. It’s only by making prudent decisions daily that parents become experienced: while continually learning.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph lived as a holy family with faithfulness, courage, and prudence. 

May we embrace God as an anchor for our own families and community, as we commence the special Jubilee Year of Hope proclaimed by our Holy Father Pope Francis. Amen.

Nativity

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Buon Natale! A blessed and happy Christmas to everyone.

Every year we relive the wonderful Christmas story, of a newborn baby in a trough, a mother holding her child in her arms, her husband Joseph watching closely. It’s a story of angels singing, and shepherds running over the hillside to tell the child they love him. Of astrologers following a star across the wilderness to fall on their knees to worship this child. It’s the world’s greatest love story.

The Gospel according to John summed up the magnificent story in a single line: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Consider the beginnings of the human family, in Genesis: man and woman walked with God, had a close friendship with God and one another. Somehow man and woman lost that friendship. Genesis describes very simply yet very powerfully how they tried to hide from God. They fell from grace. They now were at odds with God, one another and the elements of the earth.

But God did not leave us to ourselves. Remember the words of the prophet Isaiah: Can a mother forget her child? And even if she should, I will never forget you. So continued the story of our salvation.

Amid ancient Israel’s triumphs and tragedies, fidelities and infidelities to the covenant, God never reneged on his promises. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Rejoice!

The Word of God for the Christmas liturgies is like a prism through which we find multiple facets of this great mystery of the Incarnation.

Isaiah proclaims glad tidings: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Paul writes that the grace of God appeared in Jesus Christ who made us “heirs” to the promise of eternal life.

In the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke, the Virgin Mary gave birth to her son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, a feed trough for animals. 

The Gospel of John sums up the meaning of Christmas: The Word became flesh. That is God’s greatest gift to us.

Some of us may be stressed out and wondering if a so-called “perfect gift” is really what someone needs or wants.

Speaking of gifts, I remember going to Macy's and asking a saleswoman: I’d like a good perfume for my sister. What do you have? She placed a beautiful bottle on the counter. I asked: how much? $200. I said: I would like to see something less expensive? She showed me another: $150. I said: maybe I wasn’t clear. My sister only expects a “token” gift. I want to see something cheaper. She handed me a mirror. 

Some gifts really can transform the lives of the people we love and  cost little to nothing: gifts of teaching, of listening and encouraging, of sharing time and skills, of compassion and forgiveness, gifts of faith, hope and love. This kind of gift-giving begins in our own families and workplaces and communities. Enduring gifts that we can always share: gifts that can transform lives.

Back to the Christmas phrase: The Word became flesh. That single act changed our destiny forever. Christmas means not simply God in Bethlehem centuries ago but God within us.Yes, we carry within ourselves Emmanuel, God with us. How? Initially by virtue of the life-giving waters of baptism. 

We gather to worship and proclaim the awesome Word of God, to celebrate the presence of the living Christ, body and blood, soul and divinity, and to nourish our life with God in communion. 

For we are by grace what Jesus Christ is by nature: sons and daughters of God, heirs to the kingdom of God, called to live a god-like life.

That great truth of our faith, God within us, ought to challenge us always to be a good finder: looking for the good in ourselves, looking for the good in others, looking for the good in all situations in life.

And who is the ultimate good finder. God so loved us that he became one of us. Jesus Christ is that good finder. Jesus had a unique relationship with the God of ancient Israel. He was one with God. He is a God-man, a healer, a teacher, a peacemaker. Think of all the people in the Gospels that Jesus met. Jesus found goodness in all of them.

The promised Messiah has come, He is with us mystically in the word proclaimed and the sacraments celebrated, and He will come again in glory at the end-time.

In the meantime, let us be grateful for God’s immense gift to us: a baby born like ourselves. Jesus has inspired many people to celebrate the miracle of God’s creation. Noteworthy is the primary patron saint of children: Saint Nicholas, the 4th century bishop known for his gifts of food and coins to the needy.

Let us pray this Christmas season that the Lord will help those who doubt to find faith; those who despair to find hope; those who are weak to find courage; those who are sick to find health; those who are sad to find joy; and those who have died or lost loved ones to find eternal life in God. Amen.