On this last Sunday of the Christmas Season we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. Jesus is identified as the servant described by Isaiah. The servant who comes in gentleness, who opens eyes and hearts and brings light to the world. Jesus is the one who came to serve not be served.
We who are baptized are brought into the life of Jesus and are called to serve others, to do good, to bring healing to our wounded world. What a task! We don’t take on this task alone – we belong to the family of God. We are sisters and brothers in the Lord.
We are blessed!
Do you know the date of your baptism? The names of your godparents? The priest who baptized you?
Take time today to reflect on your own baptism – your calling to be servant and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. How are you able to carry out your calling?
JESUS came, witnessed, and ministered in the POWER and STRENGTH of the Holy Spirit, filled with an authentic inner confidence, conviction and assurance that God-was-with-and-within at all times. "JESUS went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." [Acts 10:38]
"Jesus returned to Galilee in the Power of the Spirit ..." [Lk. 4:14]
"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with Power ..." [Acts 10:38]
And so JESUS shares this same Spirit of Power-for-Good with us. We must be open to receiving and using it.
Jesus tells His disciples, "But you will receive Power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses..." [Acts 1:8]
Jesus says, "And behold, I am sending the Promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with Power from on High" [Lk. 24:49]
I used to ask youth preparing for Confirmation, "What will you do with your POWER?"
I ask myself this every day.
In these perilous Times we witness the abuse of worldly power every day, resulting in unconscionable and egregious suffering, torment, and deplorable sufferings. I consider that the Power of the Holy Spirit moves us to speak up and speak out against the ABUSE of power so rampant in our country and beyond today.