A Green that Does Not Disappoint

January 10, 2010
Baptism of the Lord

Last Evening, two seasons came to an end. The season finale of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Season Finale of the Christmas Season as celebrated in the Church.
Thanks be to God, the endings could not be more different.

The Eagles ending leaves us with great uncertainty, doubts and questions. But the Christmas ending leaves us filled with confident hope, with tremendous certainty as we proclaim that GOD IS WITH US and HE WILL REMAIN WITH US FOREVER. What began in Bethlehem, continues to this day...and therefore, we are no longer alone, we have a Savior....and His Life continues with us to this day.

Today, as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, we celebrate a Feast that ushers us into not a post-season, or an off-season, but really THE SEASON of Life and grace in Christ. Life with Christ thru the Christmas Mysetery and thru His Baptism and ours.

We have a great scene in today's Gospel of Luke, where we see Jesus and his friends hanging out by the Jordan River. We believe that at this point, Jesus is a young man, about 30 years old and we find him there with his friends! They are not only hanging out by the Jordan but together they are being Baptized and then we hear that beautiful Word of the Father....that this one who looks like all the rest..."This one,here, is my beloved Son, on whom my favor rest."

My friends, how fortunate we are to share in the baptism of the Lord, and to be baptized in Him. By this mystery we are indeed his children, filled with grace and united in the Lord. This is tremendously good news...for now we are part not only of our human family, but God's family, the Church and as such we have a tremendous place, tremendous hope. This feast reminds us of who we are, of the ongoing gift of Christmas and of Baptism in Jesus.

So, in a time of year that can be difficult, when we are taking down the decorations, paying the bills from Christmas, and shedding the green. The Church reminds us of the green that never fades...the hope that Christmas and Baptism bring to each one of us. I would invite you this week, to remember that fact that you are baptized. Ask the waters of your baptism to drown out the lusts, the pride, the anxieties that can fill your heart and ask those same waters to bring to life the spring of hope...the Life of Christ within you.

This is the gift that we are invited to receive, and as the world sheds it's greens this week, we will be wearing the "green of Christ", a green and hope that never disappoints!