Well under the weather with bronchitis, so I won't be able to deliver this homily this weekend, but here's hoping it is a help to all who read this blog.
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD--1/10/10
by Msgr. Eric R. Barr, S.T.L.
I. The Spirit Transforms
A. Probably no one has ever told you that Luke’s Gospel is the original Star Wars Gospel. It’s true! More than any of the other Gospel writers, Luke paints Christ’s Advent upon the earth as a cosmic battle between good and evil, the Savior against Satan. Understandably the analogy limps, because Christ is so much more than just a Galilean Luke Skywalker, and Satan is so much worse than a demon Darth Vader. Yet, make no mistake, Luke--the Gospel writer that is--wants us to see Jesus as coming to do battle with the forces of evil so that we might be healed, so that we might be free.
B. We all have heard that Baptism takes away sin, and we know that Jesus never sinned. But Baptism also gives us a destiny. When Jesus was baptized, his destiny was revealed to the people. Our Baptism and Confirmation publicly proclaimed to the world that we were on a mission from God to do his will on earth and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened--and that was really important. Jesus is here among us to be a kind of New Adam. The old Adam sinned, he cut off our close relationship with God. Jesus is going to do it right. He’s never sinned and now he’s going out into the world to wrestle with the powers of evil. The heavens open and God says, “This is my beloved Son.” Guess what? Jesus’ mission is our’s as well. We are to do what he did. Proclaiming the salvation Christ brought us means fighting evil, working for justice, and actively bringing about the Kingdom of God. As God’s adopted sons and daughters, this is our destiny.
C. But we can’t do it if we don’t accept the transformation that has occurred in us because of Baptism and Confirmation. Granted, Christ is God and so he leaves the place of his baptism and does all those great deeds, but don’t forget, he gave us power too. He sent the Holy Spirit to us to act through us. We can do the things Christ did, if we accept that he has given those gifts. John the Baptist says today that Christ is baptizing in the Holy Spirit and fire. The fire of the Holy Spirit can transform us--if we let it.
II. A Potent Powerful God, A Committed Courageous Catholic
A. Since we’re on the super-hero theme...One of the best of the super-heroes in the Comic Book Universe is Green Lantern. Never as popular or as well-known as Superman or Batman, never the less, he is loved and admired by lots of kids and adults who happen to be kids at heart. The source of his power is a ring that he charges by placing it in a special container and saying the oath that all members of the Green Lantern Corps take: In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight; let those who worship evil’s might, Beware my power, Green Lantern’s Light! And off he goes to do battle with all opposed to good.
B. Power is something people just seem to want. Whether you are a comic book kid fantasizing about rings of power or capes of strength, whether you are an adult trying to climb the corporate ladder of success, whether you are a person trying to be involved in the political process to influence events for the good–people just seem to seek power. It’s in our genes, coursing through our blood.
C. It’s funny when we watch little kids play at being super heroes how we smile ruefully at their innocence knowing that sooner or later they will realize how powerless they are as adults. We actually believe we’re weak and helpless! And yet, we’ve got more power than we dream, more strength than we know.
D. When we hear the story of the Baptism of the Lord today, we get the distinct impression that Jesus’ advent on the world stage is earth-shaking. In a whirldwind of sight and sound at the Jordan River, God is revealed as Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit and we can see this visibly in Jesus Christ. He’s got a mission, he’s got power, he’s got courage, he’s easily identifiable by what he stands for. He does not compromise or wimp out; he doesn’t take refuge in the world; he doesn’t sugar coat what he says so people won’t be offended. He’s here to fight evil and make life better for us and give us eternal life and no one will turn him from his destiny.
E. When he sent his followers out into the world, he asked them to do what he did and he gave them a share in his Spirit so they had the power to do what he did. That means we’ve got the power too...So where have we gone wrong? Why are we so worried about offending people by what we believe instead of excited about how what we believe can help others? Why are we so shy about being Catholic? Why?
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