BAPTISM OF THE LORD - YEAR A

9 th January 2005

S: Good Morning. Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Jesus and we recall the importance of our own Baptism and our trying to live the Christian life.

B: Our Word of Life for today is from the Gospel of St. Matthew - !Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be Baptised by John”.

Isn’t it interesting that this Baptism marked the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus. And in the same way our own Baptism marks the beginning of our public life as a Christian.

S: I guess in other ways we could say Baptism is more than just an entrance-visa to a particular way of life. More, it’s a work permit for the Christian way of life. So Baptism is our work permit to live the Christian life as best we can. Over the years I’ve been involved in so many baptism and I always feel it’s a great privilege to be asked to welcome someone into the family of the church. I think in my own case it always been babies and I never cease to be amazed at the miracle of new life and I often say to the family gathered at the baptism how far beyond our understanding the miracle of new life is, and that we now welcome God to be part of the journey of this little child.

B: I guess, it is a great sacrament of belonging and every child is precious and hopefully they’ll be nurtured, cherished and loved to bits by the family gathered around.

We need to embrace the importance of Baptism and the consequences of it, just as Jesus did. Baptism is the beginning of our public ministry as Christians, where we are called to love God and each other.

S: Our reflection this morning is called “Children learn what they live”.

It reminds us how we should treat children and respect the child in all of us.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.

B: However,

If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

S: You have been listening to Just a Thought with Seamus Madigan

B: and Brenda Cribbin. We can be contacted through the Limerick Diocesan Ofices at 66 O’ Connell Street. And now you can download this edition of Just a thought by clicking on limerickdiocese.org.

S: We look forward to your company again next week, so in the meantime, take care.

S & B: BYEEE

© Copyright Diocese of Limerick 1991-2007 - Disclaimer