Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As Catholics, the sacraments we celebrate and receive are not mere events that happen at a certain date and time but are a lived reality. All the sacraments we celebrate flow from the sacrament Baptism as it is Baptism that conforms us to Christ. In Baptism water is poured, the Spirit descends and God proclaims us his beloved sons and daughters. Through the Spirit we are drawn up into the very iife of God, this permits us to proclaim boldly that it is “in him that we live and move and have our being.”(Acts 17:28)

               St. Paul time and again reminds the Christian communities not to forget who and whose they are and to live in a manner that is worthy of what they have received. We can very well be baptized and call ourselves a Christian and a Catholic, but unless we live in a manner worthy of the gift we have received and allowing our hearts to be conformed to Christ, then we are not ”living” the sacrament.

               As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord today, let us renew our Baptismal promises and commitment to live the gift we have received. May we never forget our high calling. May we never forget who and whose we are. And may we always “live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28)  in Christ.

               On another note, this past week We had the marvelous opportunity to see our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV and as you may have seen on the news, the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus serenaded him in front of the Nativity Scene in St. Peter’s Square. It was an amazing experience. Please know I carried you all in prayer!

Love,

Fr. Jason