As I mentioned in a previous bulletin article, the Holy Father has declared 2025 a Jubilee Year with the theme Pilgrims of Hope. This year is a unique and special invitation to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ that is Hope for everyone! As part of this Jubilee Year, Bishop Boyea has embarked on a special journey and invites us along with him to Be My Witnesses. Each week, Bishop Boyea will offer challenges for us and will ask us to share with others prayer, thoughts, and actions. I encourage everyone to sign up by texting BMW to 84576 or visit dioceseoflansing.org/bmw
Altar Server Training
Below are times for altar server training for those in grades 4 and up. Please plan on being there for two hours. I would like to have all of those who are already trained to attend one of the sessions for current servers as a refresher. Things tend to slip and gentle reminders are always good. St. Martha School students will have training during school hours on January 17. For those who do not currently attend St. Martha School, there are a couple of options: Current Servers - Saturday, January 18 at 9:00 am New Servers - Saturday, January 18 at 11:00 am Current Servers - Monday, January 20 at 6:00 pm New Servers - Thursday, January 23 at 6:00 pm
Gospel Reflection
I think there are three points worth considering as we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and end the Christmas season. First, what was John’s baptism all about? John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. In other words, it was an outward sign or a manifestation of one’s repentance from personal sin. It was an acknowledgment by the person being baptized for their sinfulness and straying from the covenantal relationship between the person and God. John’s baptism lacked forgiveness of sins because John didn’t have the capacity to forgive sins. Only Jesus, as Christ, has that capacity. Second, why was Jesus baptized? By being baptized Himself, Jesus establishes baptism as a Sacrament - not for Himself but for us. This is of utmost importance and differentiates Jesus’s baptism from John’s. John says, “I am baptizing with water, but one mightier than I is coming. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Clearly there is a difference! Because Jesus is God, and John is not, Jesus’s baptism effects grace. It cleanses us from sin, brings us into a community of faith, and claims us as Christ’s with an indelible mark. At baptism we are sealed as Christ’s own. As we grow and mature in faith and deepen our relationship with Christ and His Church, we are then Confirmed with the Holy Spirit. Third, looking at John’s baptism and Jesus’s baptism, we clearly see a link between repentance and forgiveness. This link is seen in the connection between the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation. Those who approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation are, generally speaking, sorry for the sins they have committed. They wouldn’t approach the sacrament otherwise. And, after they have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, what happens? They are restored to their original baptismal dignity. This is why we sometimes refer to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a new baptism. I mention these three things to encourage all of us to continually seek grace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus longs to be our Lord and when we give Him our sins, failings, faults, and weaknesses, He has the chance to be just that…our Lord!