Jan 12, 2020

Post date: Jan 13, 2020 8:10:55 PM

January 12, 2020 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

The Church Liturgy begins to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve,

and it ends with the celebration of the Baptism of our Lord.

Actually, the Baptism is part of the feast of Epiphany.

The word Epiphany means God is showing to all people his Son

who was born for us. This revealing began with the shepherds, then

the Magi, Jesus’ Baptism and even includes the Wedding Feast at Cana.

Let us focus on Jesus’ Baptism today.

We think it was strange that Jesus was baptized

because John the Baptist’s baptism was one of repentance.

One of the purposes of Christian Baptism is to take away sin.

But Jesus had no sins and so it’s difficult to understand why he asked

John to baptize him. John didn’t want to but Jesus insisted:

“it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

This meant that accepting John’s baptism was in accord with God’s will.

The baptism of Jesus was primarily to show that

Jesus is God’s beloved Son, that he was ever faithful to the

will of his Father, that he was anointed by the Holy Spirit as Messiah and

he was guided by the Holy Spirit in the course of his ministry.

The Baptism of Jesus reminds us of our own Baptism. There are

many positions and vocations that people can have in the Church.

But all these fade when compared to the first Sacrament of all: Baptism.

Everyone is called to holiness—lay and clergy, single and married.

When we stand before the throne of God our roles or titles will be of little

importance.

Our distinction will depend on one thing only—the extent

to which we have lived out our baptismal calling to imitate Christ.

From a spiritual point of view, baptism is the greatest thing

that can happen to us.

To be baptized is to be christened, that is to be made like Christ.

Of course, this doesn’t happen routinely.

One must learn what it means to be Christian and to grow into it.

This is the task of a lifetime.

We celebrate birthdays lavishly—

so should we celebrate our baptismal day

because this is the day we were born as children of God.

Get out your Baptism certificate—display it—remember the day.

When we enter church and sign ourselves with holy water,

we remind ourselves of our baptism--when we were born again of water

and the Holy Spirit.

We renew our commitment to live as a disciple of Jesus.

Let us renew our Baptismal promises: