Dear Friends in Christ,

Today's feast, "Baptism of the Lord," is the end of the liturgical season of Christmas. As Jesus presents himself for baptism in the river Jordan, He sets in motion the extraordinary pattern of faith for all of His believers to follow. For as Jesus is baptized, so too are all Christians baptized into His death and resurrection. After Jesus' baptism, His public ministry of bringing the "Good News" of salvation began. That public ministry is continued by all of us who are His followers. Thus, on this special feast of the "Baptism of the Lord," we once again reaffirm our own faith and our ministry to bring and witness that faith to our world at large.

A thoughtful question could therefore be rightfully asked. How does a person of faith live their faith on a daily basis? The first Letter of Saint John gives us a sound foundation.

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments."

To hear and respond to such a statement requires a faith that is truly rooted in humility. Jesus shows us how to humble ourselves and respond to God by his own humbling action of being baptized Himself. Such a humble faith will take heed of Isaiah's words when he said, "listen, that that you may have life." Further, "seek the Lord while he may be found." Still further, "turn to the Lord for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving."

It should not be too difficult to recognize that our world is in a constant state of flux. Human thinking and reasoning has not been able to bring about individual and/or collective peace and security. Humanity will be humbled one way or another before our God. Better to discover the truth of one's life through faith than through adversity. God's response through the words of Isaiah are sobering and telling.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts."

God is calling each of us, His children, to respond to His "call to holiness." That call must be rooted in some way "by living in the service of the Gospel." My friends, each of you are invited to discover right here in your parish community the many opportunities that currently exist to be "engaged" in the works of the Gospel.

I ask you to pray with me for the renewed fervor to ask God for the grace to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. When more of God's people decide to work for the sake of the Gospel, more lives will be touched by the saving power of Jesus Christ, the same "yesterday, today and forever."

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. James Tarantino,
Pastor