We are jumping right into January and entering a new season with the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. This feast is exactly what the title is. It is by baptism that we enter the life of grace that God offers to us. For Jesus it is the beginning of His public ministry which leads us to His resurrection. Last week we had the feast of the Epiphany, Jesus as a little child and the three magi. That feast foreshadowed the Gospel being preached to all the world.
We also kick off our celebration of 150 years of being a parish. As you recall from the golden sheets in the bulletin, we will have events/activities each month that will allow us to commemorate parish life and our history. Looking back helps us realize the blessings and journey our parish has taken over the years. It gives us a foundation that we can build on. We should also look to the future of the faith being lived out at St. Peter. It calls us to look more deeply at how we grow as a family of faith. How to embrace our God given gifts to proclaim the Gospel.
As mentioned in last week’s bulletin, I am leaving for vacation out of town. Not to worry as things are covered. Cross Catholic will be here for the weekend. I encourage your support and prayers for the work that they do to care for the least of our brothers and sisters and all in need. Prayer and even fasting for vocations to the priesthood would be a great thing too.
Going back to baptism, that begins our journey of faith and is meant to lead us to becoming saints. We are to strive to be saints every day in ordinary ways in this season of Ordinary Time. St. John Bosco said “Love, when rooted in God, is not limited by convenience or comfort–it’s expressed in patience, forgiveness, compassion, and sacrifice.” All of those things we can do. It is a matter of choosing to do them and do them on a consistent basis. So many of those in the faith here at St. Peter parish did that over the last 150 years, may we join them in living and passing on the faith rooted in the love of God and neighbor.