News - January 2022 RSS Feed

It's not easy to preach or minister in your own home town among people who know your family well and remember when you were a little kid! (I have had that experience.) The gospel relates the rough reception Jesus received when he preached at the synagogue in Nazareth. Our first reading today is the account of Jeremiah's call to be a prophet in 628 BC. The Lord's call and anointing preceded Jeremiah's birth: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you."

How powerful is God's word? Well, consider that God created the entire universe and everything that exists by simply uttering his word! The Word of God took on flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and dwelt among us. The word of God is a manifestation of the power and authority of God himself. "The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." (Heb. 4:12). Today's readings help us appreciate the power of God's word.

Epiphany, Baptism, and now Cana - these are traditionally the three "manifestations" of Jesus the Messiah as he comes into the world for his mission and ministry. In today's gospel we hear about the first "sign" that Jesus worked, revealing his glory. The second reading concerns the gifts of the Holy Spirit - also "signs" of the Lord in our midst. The first reading describes Israel as "God's Delight" and the spouse of the Lord - yet another "sign" of God's glory.

"Christ's entire mission is summed up in this: to baptize us in the Holy Spirit..." (Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, January 13, 2008). The Son of God was sent to earth on a mission: to reconcile mankind to God and to baptize us in the Holy Spirit. Today we celebrate Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan River, when the heavens opened, the voice of the Father was heard, and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus.  On this day, Jesus began his public ministry - his mission!