Message from Augie

The account of the Baptism of Jesus gives a glimpse into the Trinity:  the Word-made-flesh in the Jordan, the descent of the Spirit, and the voice of the Father all unite in this mystery.

You probably recall that in the book of Genesis, after the flood, Noah sends a dove out three times to test whether the people and animals should leave the ark.  On her third flight, the dove finds a solid place to rest, and because she doesn’t return, the ark’s residents leave its confinement at last.  But the land that Noah’s family returns to isn’t exactly the land they’d left.  Every person on the ark would have to remember for the rest of their days the suffering, the fear, and death that had just taken place throughout their known world.  They’re beginning life anew, but at a very high cost.

Catholics see our sacrament of baptism as coming from Jesus’ baptism and as prefigured in the waters Now move forward in scripture.  At Jesus’ baptism, a dove comes again, this time, clearly named by Luke as the Holy Spirit.  Again, the dove finds a solid place to rest, this time, on the person Jesus.  We of Noah’s ark, which makes sense for us, but for Jesus?  He doesn’t need salvation, HE IS SALVATION!  But as the Catholic catechism of the Church says, baptism “unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that we too might walk in the newness of life.  It’s all there: cleansing, death, life, relationship, and the Triune God present to us in a man, through a voice, and in that dove.  What a sight that must have been.

So let’s come forward in time once again.  Our sacrament of baptism is rich with salvation history.  Jesus’ baptism means life for us.  In  our own baptism we are reconciled to God and united to Christ.  It happens every time a person is baptized.  We might not see doves, but the Holy Spirits there.

SO THE QUESTION:  WHAT COULD YOU LOOK FOR THE NEXT BAPTISM YOU HAVE THE JOY OF WITNESSING?

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE:  St. Jude, apostle of Christ, the church honors and prays to you universally as the patron of hopeless and difficult cases.   Pray for us in our needs.   Make use, we implore you of this powerful privilege given to you to bring visible and speedy help where help is needed.  Pray that we humbly accept the trials and disappointments and mistakes which are a part of our human nature.   Help us to see the reflection of the suffering of Christ in the trials and tribulations of our lives.   Let us see in a spirit of great faith and hop the part we even now share in the joy of Christ’s resurrection and which we long to share fully in heaven.   Intercede that we may again experience this joy in answer to our present needs.   If it is God’s dire for us (here make your request)  we know our prayers will be heard through your intercession.  AMEN