The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Reading 1: IS 42:1-4, 6-7 Responsorial Psalm: PS 29:1-2, 3-4,...

This is what we hope and pray for every day; that Christ will return and establish that just and peaceful kingdom. Whether that kingdom will be on earth or in that state of existence we refer to as heaven, or if it will happen in our lifetime remains to be seen; but the justice and peace it represents is that which we pray for and what we are assured of through the scriptures and through the 2000-year history of the teachings of the church.

The Blessed Mother being referred to as the Mother of God is easy for us to understand as Catholic Christians and has been a staple of church teaching almost from the beginning of the Christian era.

The theme of our readings this week is certainly family, but above and beyond the family bond is the love that defines that bond and the Agape love that God requires of us in all our relationships.

The “golden thread” of our readings this week is, quite plainly, the birth of Christ and, specifically, the virgin birth of Christ to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. And these readings are meant to prepare us for our two-fold Advent anticipation of the Incarnation of Christ at Christmas and his anticipated return in judgment at the end of time. Be prepared!!!

Individuals are conditioned by the society they live in and, therefore, the crimes of particular individuals disclose the corruption within society. In any society, only a few individuals are guilty of serious sin, but all of society is responsible because it is too often indifferent to that sin and fails to make it apparent that sinful behavior is unacceptable.

Christianity has been anticipating Jesus’ return for over 2000 years, which leads one to wonder how many no longer believe in His return, so they conduct their lives as in darkness rather than as in daylight. But Jesus assures us that He will return, and he will come like a “thief in the night,” when we least expect Him.

As St. Paul reminds us elsewhere: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Therefore, be prepared! “By your perseverance (and witness) you will secure your lives.”

So the message of our readings this week is the Resurrection and the afterlife in heaven we all pray for. But it’s not an automatic for us. We have to bear witness to our faith in Christ and defend it. Otherwise, we may hear what the last son said before he died: “But for you, there will be no resurrection to life.”

Humility before God means that we recognize ourselves as God’s creation; we are the clay, not the potter. Everything we have comes from God, even our next breath.