Water: Necessary for life, Enjoyment physically, Powerful in our World, and Essential for our Spiritual Lives: The Baptism of our Lord

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

The last weekend of the Christmas Season: The Baptism of Jesus Christ

We have quickly went through essential moments of our Salvation History

·     The birth of Jesus Christ

·     The presentation of Jesus in the Temple

·     The finding of Jesus in the Temple

·     The Holy Family

·     The Epiphany

·     And now, as an adult, the Baptism of Jesus Christ

·     Monday begins Ordinary Time again

Today, let us think about water

·     The water we need:

o  If we cannot drink water, we cannot live

§ Our bodies is maintained by 60% of the liquids in our bodies

o  We use it also to clean ourselves, our dishes, or homes to receive sanitary, which many brothers and sisters doesn’t even receive this!

o  Also, how much water is used for agriculture for food?

·     We enjoy water

o  Minnesota with 11,842 lakes larger than 10 acres!

o  How many of us love to live, swim, fish, boat, canoe or camp right next to these beautiful lakes?

o  Or even in the winter

§ Ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling

·     We know the power of water

o  Hurricanes, typhoons, thunderstorms

o  Or even the ways to use this power to try to stop a fire or, like in California and around our country, how much water is needed for safety

I mention this today, because water is crucial in our human lives…then Jesus Christ changes it to our spiritual lives

·     2000 years ago, John the Baptist was seeing many, many people to baptize them to repent from their sins

·     Then he saw Jesus, entering in line to be baptized and we heard a curious conversation with John

o  John answered them all, saying, 
"I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
After all the people had been baptized 
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, 
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove. 
And a voice came from heaven, 
"You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased."

Was Jesus forgiven this baptism?  Well, no. He had no sins.

·     He was baptized not to himself, but to humanity and to show the spiritual opportunities to create blessed, or holy water

·     Meaning, he opens a new door with this water which we call the first sacrament of our Church, to be entered into God’s family