“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

How do you describe the indescribable? It was the greatest day of Our Lord’s life. Up to that point, at least. We celebrated the Epiphany of The Lord last week with the Christmas Star over Bethlehem and the visit of the Magi and now we close out the Season of Christmas and we move to the River Jordan.

This great mystery of who Jesus is in relation to the Holy Trinity. The voice of God speaking to those witnesses to His Baptism with the complete revelation of God for the first time since the creation of the world. Finally, we know who God is: a family, the loving Trinity of Persons, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says in reference to the mysteries of Jesus’ public life and ministry: “This is the great Epiphany (manifestation) of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God” (Paragraph 535).

Such a breathtaking, awesome, world-changing moment on the riverbank is only told in a few short words by St. Luke.

Now the way of the “mighty one” is prepared. It is a way that will lead to our salvation through the Cross. We walk with Jesus on to Jerusalem, to Calvary and finally to the salvation of the empty tomb.

We are baptized into this story of creation and salvation. Our mission began at our Baptism!

Your Baptism Was The Greatest Day of Your Life.

It’s the revelation of who we are as sons and daughters of a loving Father, made holy by the Spirit, in Jesus the mighty Christ and Lord.

At our baptism, we were also configured to Christ, named, washed and anointed into this mystery, of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We all have a great mission in this world.

537 “Through Baptism, the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in his own baptism anticipates his death and resurrection. The Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father's beloved son in the Son and “walk in newness of life.”

“The Father's voice responds to the Son's acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to “rest on him”. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism “the heavens were opened” - the heavens that Adam's sin had closed - and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.”

Mark Your Calendars:
Coming Once Again In January 2025: Prayer & Life Workshops with Chayito Hernandez Beginning at 6:30PM on Thursday, January 16th in PLC Room 1 & 2

Fr. Kilian, Fr. Samuel, our Deacons and our Parish Staff and Volunteers.

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