IN MEMORY OF FR. VINCENT O’REILLY
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILLIATION
On this final day of the Christmas season, we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We hear in dramatic fashion of Jesus rising from the waters of the River Jordan, the heavens opening before him, the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and a voice from the heavens proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am pleased. “Though not as visibly, we too have risen from the waters of baptism and received the Holy Spirit. As beloved children of God, we pray that God is also well pleased with us.
In SPANISH
En este ultimo dia del tiempo de Natividad celebration la fiesta del Bautismo de Señor. Escu chamos en un Estilo dramatico el relato de Bautismo de Jesus en el rio Jordan y come al salir de las aquas los cielos se abrieron y el Espiritu Santo descendio en forma de paloma, y se escucha entonces desde el Cielo la voz del Padre, que proclama: “Este es mi Hijo muy amado, en quien tengo mis complacencias”. Nosotros tambien hemos Salido de las aguas del Bautismo y, aunque no de manera tan visible hemos recibido el Espiritu Santo. Come hijas e hijos amados del Padre, oramos para que Dios este tambien complacido con nosotros.
MAKING HIS AIMS OUR OWN
On several occasions I’ve had the privilege of being on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. An experience that I specially remember was wading into the river Jordan, where I and each of my fellow pilgrims renewed the promises of our baptism. It was a moving moment, and one could envision the Spirit descending, and the Father confirming each of us as his son or daughter. Many of those who experienced it remember that moment with great emotion, and with a sense of renewed commitment.
The baptism of Jesus is a moment of special grace in our story of salvation. Not only did he join us in our sinful state, but the Father and the Spirit are seen and heard to be there with him. The gospel uses the simple phrase that “the heavens were opened,” but it is a powerful statement. Later on, when Jesus completed his life-journey on Calvary, we read how “the veil of the Temple was rent in two.” Now at last we were free to enter the Holy of Holies. Today’s gospel is the beginning of a journey, which, through our own baptism, each of us is asked to travel. It is a journey full of purpose.
Even if we seldom think of it, each person needs a sense of purpose and pattern in our living. When I set out on a journey, I need to have a definite idea of where I intend going, and how to make the journey. Peter summarized the purpose and pattern of Christ’s life when he said, “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” We are invited to make his purpose our own.
A man was down the country travelling along by-roads where the signposts were few and far between. After a while, unsure of his directions, he decided to ask the first person he saw. When he came across a farmer driving his cows’ home for milking, he stopped the car and asked if he was on the right road to Mallow. The farmer told him that he certainly was on the Mallow road. The driver thanked him and was about to move forward when the farmer added, in a nonchalant way, “You’re on the right road, but you’re going in the wrong direction!’
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom am well pleased.”