Dear Parishioners,
We have initiated a New Year … The Year of the Lord 2010, just a few days ago and today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. New beginnings are what these early days of January are always about. As the year begins we make resolutions, “promises,” to ourselves and those whom we love, to strive towards becoming better persons … in the sacrament of Baptism we are immersed in water and initiated into a new life … a life free of sin. There are similarities that abound as we begin a new year but as we know, the promises, be they resolutions or the promises made at Baptism, are not always fulfilled.
As God's people we need a constant reminder of those Baptismal promises. Perhaps through the repetition of being reminded we may get tired of hearing about it and finally wake up to the fact that we are much better off leading the life God calls us to rather than the life the world has called us to live.
And thus … the Baptismal Font of our church; situated at the top of the steps and at the head of our sanctuary, placed where we cannot help but walk past it and where we should do everything in our power to walk past it. It is not there simply to remind us of our entry into the church through the wonderful sacrament of Baptism, it is there to confront us. Its presence says to us, “Are you living what you have been called into?” The sacrament of Baptism called you into a life of holiness. The font confronts us each week to continue this life!
As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord … as we begin a new year of the Lord 2010, let us be mindful of the call to holiness placed in our hearts and work on fulfilling those promises made for and by us at our Baptism, promises far more important than the resolutions we probably won't keep anyhow.
A Happy and Blessed New Year to you and yours…
Sincerely,
Fr. Jan
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