From pastor’s desk on the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord
The third Sunday of Christmas is dedicated to the recognition of the Baptism of the Lord. Although this Sunday formally concludes the liturgical season of Christmas, traditionally Christmas carols and decorations were used until the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord celebrated on February 2nd. This was to support the idea that the spirit of Christmas should continue to live in us unceasingly, for Christ needs to be born in us every day of our lives. We must choose Jesus and Jesus wants to be chosen so that our faith may grow continually in us without getting stagnate.
As for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, it is the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Our Lord comes to John the Baptist together with other people, drawing from all Judea to be baptized, that is, to be immersed and ritually washed in the Jordan River. This baptism of John meant washing off the sins; it was the baptism of repentance. Since Jesus was sinless, He neither needed repentance nor this ritual washing. However, the fathers of the Church interpreted this event as theologically significant. Namely, our Lord Jesus wanted to be baptized by John, and to be seen by others, to unite Himself with all the sinners that were entering the river. By doing this Jesus sanctified the waters of the river Jordan. Hence it was not John who baptized the people but Jesus who washed them in His own passion and death on the cross. So, all those, whom John baptized, were also baptized in Christ. Even Saint Paul observed this stating: “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21).
Besides the short reflection regarding this Sunday theme, I would like to touch upon something very important and hard to comprehend. This last Christmas something utterly sad had occurred. After the 11AM Mass on Christmas Day a parishioner found three communion hosts in the garbage bin. It was promptly reported to Fr. Charlie, who properly took care of the hosts. It is truly heartbreaking how little understanding and respect for the Eucharist there exists among the people. Whoever did it (the person was immediately identified and spoken to!), not only did not have proper understanding of the REAL PRESENCE of Christ in the Eucharist, but also seemed to act disrespectfully and disdainfully towards our beliefs. In fact, it was a SACRILEGIOUS DEED, for which we all should repent and make acts of reparation as a parish.
What occurred on Christmas Day is only a grim reminder of the loss of faith and lack of the fear of Lord among the people. Even if you attended a Protestant prayer service, this would be considered a terrible offense. All the more for the Catholic Holy Mass, we believe that it was the Lord and not just a wafer that was treated with contempt. Let us remember that only Catholics in the state of sanctifying grace can receive Holy Communion. IT SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE that you go to communion because everybody else is going to receive it and you feel embarrassed for not going with the crowd. On the contrary, YOU SHOULD BE PROPERLY PREPARED TO RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION WITHOUT ASSUMING that YOU ARE ENTITLED TO IT.
It is not an impertinence when you refrain from receiving Holy Communion. Rather it is a respectful recognition of the fact that the Eucharist is the most sacred reality for Catholics. Thus, if you are not a member of the Catholic Church, or you do not have a good moral condition (i.e., freedom from mortal sin) or proper understanding of the Eucharist, you should not come to communion, for HOLY COMMUNION IS THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING GOD. I kindly ask all of you to please educate yourselves, your children, and your family and friends who visit our church to know how to properly receive Holy Communion or respectfully refrain from it when appropriate.
God bless you all. Fr. Janusz Mocarski, Pastor