Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. PHIL 4:4-7
When people describe you especially those closest to you do they tell everyone you are the kindest person they know. Do you have a lot of anxiety or no anxiety? Are you at peace with God? Be kind (love). Have no anxiety. Be at peace. Sounds good to me.
The crowds asked John the Baptist,
“What should we do?”
He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
“Teacher, what should we do?”
He answered them,
“Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.”
Soldiers also asked him,
“And what is it that we should do?”
He told them,
“Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages.”
Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people. LK 3:10-18
We fill our minds with a lot of information these days. News is on 24/7 and we are on our phones or Internet almost constantly if we are not working or spending time with family. The important lesson from today’s Gospel is to make sure we are growing in knowledge of the right information. The knowledge that will give us wisdom and grace. The knowledge of the last great prophet who ushered our Savior into the world. That is intense and a big deal. It changes everything, our hearts, our perspective on life and how we live it, death, new life, purpose, believing in something bigger than ourselves. Reflect on your baptism today when you bless yourself with holy water entering the Church today. The baptismal font is in the front of the Church since it is the sacrament that washes away our Original Sin and all sin. Then, we can enter the back of the Church to receive the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Confirmation. Someone made a decision to have you baptized or you made the decision yourself. It is the most powerful action in one’s life for their soul. Now that we are adopted sons and daughters of the One Father, we have a huge responsibility to be kind, love, and become a saint bringing as many others with us as possible.
Today’s challenge: Be kind. Reflect on your baptism and the responsibility/duty that comes with it. Write the priest that baptized you and thank them.
We are saints in training! Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
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