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?
II. Letting the Fire Do Its Work
A. So many people want to be warmed by the fire of Christianity, but not come too close lest they get burned. A lot of us are like that. Including those who no longer practice their faith but claim to be Catholic. Can we convince them of the power we have to change the world, and how much we need them to help? How do we let the fire of the Holy Spirit really burn in our hearts and what will happen if we do?
B. Surrender to God--that’s how you let the Holy Spirit work in you. We have to plunge in and say to God, “I accept my Baptism and Confirmation. I may have been lukewarm in the past, but I want to live my faith now, no matter what the cost, no matter what happens.
C. What will happen?
1. The Spirit cleanses. That’s what fire does. It consumes all that which we don’t need.
a. We start to burn away sin. We say no to the wrong things we are tempted to do.
b. We begin to think of others rather than ourselves.
c. Virtue becomes our goal, not things we wish to acquire or desires we wish to fulfill.
d. God becomes more important. His will becomes our will.
2. The Spirit energizes. That’s what fire does. It gives off energy and fuels us with what we need to do God’s work.
a. We recognize that we have a purpose and begin living like a Catholic, unafraid of what we believe.
b. We become like the Servant in Isaiah, people who try to heal the sick, comfort the oppressed, work for justice, fight evil wherever we discover it.
c. We show others the fire of the Spirit in us. In other words, we become people of fierce joy--hopeful, optimistic people. (cf. Mother Teresa, John Paul II).
D. We Catholics don’t often like to deal with the idea that we have been sent out to do spiritual warfare--it offends our idea of being people of peace. But the Gospel of Luke stands as a challenge to us. We are people of peace in everything but our struggle against evil. All evil, whether from Satan or from human beings is our implacable foe. It’s one of the reasons we are here on earth. So let the Spirit transform us--we’ve got a job to do. It’s a lot more exciting than Star Wars, and more important than being a super-hero. It’s about the destruction of the Empire of Evil, and the building of the Kingdom of God.
I hope you are feeling better soon and thank you for posting your homily, even though I didn't get to hear you deliver it, your homilies are always inspiring, God definitely talks to me through you.
Posted by: Kathy | January 10, 2010 at 06:12 AM
Hope you are feeling better and have a great vacation. We are leaving Fri. and will be back in March. Hopefully it will be warmer when we get there. God bless you.
*****Thanks, already on the mend; have a great time!
Posted by: jim and kay stark | January 12, 2010 at 07:41 PM