Reflecting on the Sacrament of Baptism Dear Family in Christ, This coming weekend, the church celebrates the Feast of Baptism of Jesus. I have such a vivid happy memories of my visit to Wadi El Kharrar where tradition says Jesus Baptism took place. I commend you to take time to pray on the Gospel story from St. Marks Gospel, Chapter 4-11. Imagine John the Baptist along the Jordan river, surrounded by a large crowd, yelling as he called everyone to a baptism of repentance by immersion in the river. Suddenly, he spotted Jesus, whom he knew so well in the Baptism line. To get the details as to how John reacted , read Matthew chapter 3 for more detail. Just imagine how nervous and shocked he must have been when as St. Marks Gospel tells us: The heavens were torn open and the spirit, like a dove, descended upon Jesus voice came from the heavens; You are my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. This was truly a spectacular revelation of all three persons of the Trinity. St. Mark continues the story: Immediately afterwards the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness and he remained there for 40 days and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts and the angels looked after him. The Baptism of Jesus was a very significant event in His life as the new Adam. As St. Paul calls him, he goes into the waters on behalf of the whole human race. Now the door to salvation begins to open for us all. The Holy Spirit becomes the dynamic force in his Life. For the next three years, he teaches, works miracles, dies on the cross, rises from the dead and pours out the Pentecost Spirit on the Church. Now the effects of what happened that day in the Jordan River at Waddi El Kharrar flow into our lives 2,000 years later through our personal baptism. For most of us, the Holy Spirit came into us as infants. Our parents and God parents spoke yes on our behalf even though we were not conscious if it, this indwelling of the Spirit was very real. We received a further installment of the spirit when we received the Sacrament of Confirmation. We also say, as Father Raniero Cantalamessa tells us that every Eucharist, we receive a mini-Pentecost since, what Jesus wants to give us most of all is his transforming Spirit. There is always more of the Holy Spirit, which is available to us especially through that Grace, with which so many of you receiving this e-mail have been blessed, your Baptism-in-the-Spirit, the release fullness of the spirit in our lives. How true for St. John the Baptist, when he foretold what Jesus would do for us: He is the one who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Matthew 3:11 As I have been reflecting and praying about Sundays Gospel, I came to realize how blessed I am in my ongoing Grace of my Sacrament of Baptism, my Sacrament of Confirmation, my Ordination to the Priesthood and my Baptism in the Spirit. How blessed I have been during my 60 as a priest to be minister of Baptism to thousands of babies especially in the missions to Nigeria. I have been so blessed to lead so many through Baptism in the Spirit, many of whom are receiving this email over the years I certainly have experienced the presence, power and fire of the Holy Spirit for which I am so grateful. Now, as you reflect on your Baptism this week, I suggest that you spend a Holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament in Thanksgiving for the ongoing Grace of your Baptism, a Grace that continues to transforms you preparing you for your homecoming. May you have a Spirit-filled New Year. - Fr. Michael
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:07:13 +0000
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