As we bring the Advent/Christmas Season to a close, we focus on the mission that was the reason behind the coming of Jesus as a human being: to show us how much God loves us, to make God's love the strongest force in our lives, and to show us how to pass that love on to our neighbor. Jesus emptied himself, in a sense, became weak, so that it would be evident that the Spirit working through him would accomplish this mission. He accepted the gift of the Spirit as he rose from the baptismal waters of the Jordan, and after further clarification during his desert retreat, he went ahead to live out the purpose of his birth.
So too with us, who as children were baptized, received the Spirit, further underscored at our confirmations, and gradually are coming to understand the full implications of these sacraments.
It is evident that we can only live and proclaim the Gospel mission in humility and "weakness", for when we are weak, then we are strong (cf. 2 Cor 12:10) and it becomes clear to us and to all, that it is not by our power alone but with our gifts enhanced by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can be effective witnesses and evangelizers. As we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, let us also celebrate our own, open our hearts to the working of the Spirit and commit ourselves once more to living out our baptismal promises.
Bro. Rene
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