St James Catholic Church

I suspect that many of you have already taken down your Christmas tree and inside and outside decorations.  Actually the Christmas liturgy season does not end until today, when we celebrate the baptism of the Lord.  We now enter the ordinary season of the year.  Not until March 2, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, do we change our colors to violet/purple and begin the penitential preparation to celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord.

When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove, and a voice from the heavens rang out, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”  No such dove was seen or voice was heard when we were baptized, yet the Holy Spirit did descend upon us in baptism and we were welcomed into this holy family, initiated us into the Body of Christ. 

In Isaiah, he says, “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased.”  You would think Isaiah would have used the word “hero” or “king,” not servant.  But Isaiah had the wisdom to realize that the fundamental mission to which God would call this person was one of service.  Similarly, God does not call any of us to triumph or to rule, but to serve.  So while we can be grateful that through the waters of baptism, we too, are his beloved daughters and sons, at the same time, let us pledge to be those obedient servants throughout this New Year.

Love, Peace, Joy,

-Fr. Bob