Work To Do

Today's celebration of the Baptism of the Lord culminates the Advent/Christmas Season and is the third "manifestation" "showing"  of Jesus.  The first, his birth in Bethlehem, the second, the revelation to the Magi, and the third, from the mouth of the Father in the presence of the Holy Spirit, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." (Lk 3:22).  "This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing."  Do we get it?  Emmanuel, God with us.  After his baptism, Jesus went to work, preaching, teaching, healing.  Our task is the same, and after putting away our Christmas decorations and nativity scenes, we move ahead, enriched by our weeks of reflection and prayer over this great mystery.  We too are God's beloved, and he is well pleased witi us, as imperfect and unfinished as we are.  Our own Baptism has given us the status of the adopted in God's family.  He stands behind us, with us, in us, to help us continue the work of Jesus.  May our hearts, our day, our lives be filled with praise and gratitude.
Bro. Rene