Pastoral Message – January 12, 2025
Dear Parishioners and Visitors,
This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We are familiar with the event as it is described to us in Scripture: Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the appearance of a dove, and the voice of God the Father was heard proclaiming, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
When we were baptized, no dove was seen and the voice of God the Father was not heard; but the Holy Spirit did come upon us and we became the beloved children of God. This is the glorious reality of our baptism. “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are.” (1 Jn. 3:1) This reality prompted Pope St. Leo the Great to proclaim, “Christian, remember your dignity!”
Yes, we have an awesome dignity as the beloved children of God. The feast we celebrate this weekend reminds us to remember and to honor that dignity in ourselves and in one another. We do this by acting in a way that shows we are God’s children: following the guidance of the Lord’s teachings and example and loving one another as God loves us.
May we always give strong evidence of our Christian identity and Christian dignity, as God’s beloved children. May our witness draw others to a closer union with Jesus Christ, whose birth we have been celebrating so beautifully during the last few weeks!
Blessings,
Fr. Philip
