SAINT BONAVENTURE CHURCH BAPTISM OF THE LORD JANUARY 12, 2020 As Christian stewards, our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people through word, sacrament, service and community life. Page two Baptism of the Lord
PPastor's Corner
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today the Church concludes the Season of Christmas. We move on from the Scriptural accounts of the infancy and early years of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, Son of God and Son of Mary. Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord by John in the river Jordan. Of course, Jesus was sinless and did not need the baptism of John, which was a cleansing for those who were acknowledging their sin. However, Jesus in becoming man, chose to identify himself with sinners. Jesus came to free us from our sins and raise us up to eternal life. Jesus came to fill us with the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to fill us with the grace and goodness of God. The Baptism of the Lord marks the beginning of the adult ministry of Jesus in the world with the words of God the Father over his Son, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17; see also Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7)
I love the Second Reading today from the Acts of the Apostles. We only have five verses of the encounter between Peter and Cornelius. I would encourage you to read all of chapter ten of the Acts of the Apostles. Cornelius was a Roman centurion. He was “devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly.” (Acts 10:2) An angel of God came to him and told him to summon Peter (Simon Peter). At this same time Peter had a dream in which, three times, a large sheet containing numerous unclean animals was lowered in front of him and he was ordered to slaughter and eat them. He refused since they were unclean. A voice spoke, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.” (Act 10:15) When Cornelius’ messengers came to the house where Peter was staying, he realized that this was the reason he had had that dream. Jews were not to be in the same house with a Gentile, an unclean person. But, “What God had made clean, Peter was not to call profane.”
Peter went to Cornelius’ house. Cornelius invited all of his relatives and friends to come and listen to Peter. Cornelius told Peter, “Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” Peter gave them an instruction in the Faith about Jesus Christ, including his baptism by John, his Death by Crucifixion, as well as Peter’s eyewitness account of eating and drinking with the Risen Lord. The effect of this was that Cornelius and all with him received the Holy Spirit and praised God. Peter had them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
This is where we come in. We have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are called to live our Faith each and every day. We are called to praise the Lord and proclaim our Lord Jesus Christ to the world. Like Cornelius, it begins with living an upright and God-fearing life. It requires being generous with what we have. It requires being life-long learners of the Faith. Through Baptism you have been filled with God, the Holy Spirit, filled with Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary, filled with God the Father. Live your life accordingly. January 12, 2020 Page three
ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES, USA BINGO Special Collection January 11-12 Saturday, January 18 6:00–9:00 p.m. I’ve been many months, probably over a year or more Duffy Center if you count it up, where I didn’t have [access to] a Join the Knights of Columbus Catholic Chaplain. for an evening of fun, thrills and The above quote are the words of a soldier who food. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. has completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan and play begins at 6:30. Food and another in Iraq. He, and many other Catholic and beverages available for service members, know all too well the difficulty that can be found in purchase. Minimum purchase trying to fully practice one’s faith while deployed. Currently, 25% of the is just $10 for ten games with Military is Catholic. two cards per game. Additional The AMS faces many challenges in her mission “to serve those who games cost $1 each. Pots are serve.” The AMS receives no funding from the United States government based on attendance with bonus and has no parishes from which to draw financial resources. Yet, in a pots added through the night. sense, the AMS is a parish that stretches across the world. Despite these Players must be 18 years or older. difficulties, the AMS is here to ensure that of all the sacrifices our service Proceeds benefit seminarian members and their families must make, their faith and access to the scholarships and those who wish sacraments should not be one of them. Please consider making a gift to to enter religious life. the AMS today. Thank you. RESPECT LIFE ROSARY