Baptism of the Lord – Holy Trinity Church

This Sunday, January 11th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. With this celebration, the Church finishes the Christmas season and, at the same time, starts Ordinary Time.

The Gospel teaches us that John baptized Our Lord Jesus Christ in the waters of the Jordan River. Once Our Lord was baptized, God, Our Father, said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). We were baptized because our parents, as good disciples, followed the mandate of the Lord, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Once we were baptized, we became God’s children by adoption; therefore, since our Baptism we are also the beloved children of God. The question here is… “Are we pleasing God with our life as Christian people?”

Baptism cannot become just a rite that is celebrated once in our lives. Baptism should be a living sacrament that is renewed constantly with each one of our actions. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans reminds us that through Baptism we died for our sins and get new life through the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not! How can we who died to sin yet live in it? Or, are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were indeed buried with Him through Baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with Him through a death like his, we shall also be united with Him in the resurrection” (Romans 6:1-5).

Let us live our Baptism always being truly Jesus’ disciples. Remember that Baptism makes us new people. We are protected by God through this sacrament. We received for the first time the Holy Spirit in our Baptism and then His fullness in the sacrament of Confirmation. Let us always live our own Baptism with joy, knowing that God, our Father though our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit is always protecting each one of us.

Let us renew our Baptismal promises:

V. Do you reject Satan?
R. I do.

V. And all his works?
R. I do.

V. And all his empty promises?
R. I do.

V. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
R. I do.

V. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified,

died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
R.Ido.

V. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
R.Ido.

V. God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins. May He also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramírez