DEEPEST IDENTITY

The words of God remain forever and true. It can stand the test of time. The very words spoken by the prophet Isaiah from today's 1st reading can also be found in today's gospel. It tells us that God is consistent with His word and does not change. What He said a long time ago will always find a place throughout time and history. There is a time gap between when these 2 books of the bible were written yet their message applies for both times even to this present day. We can always hold on to the words of God and not be disappointed. God will always be true to His word and can always make things happen in accordance to His everlasting will and power. Amen. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

1 Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; ...

I am just surprised at how vividly I could still remember up to now the pictures in my children bible books even the feeling of awe and amazement while looking at the pictures back then is still very clear to me. What is still left in my mind and etched in my heart has formed part of the foundation of my faith which has always made me profess the glory, honor and power that is due to no other than our God. No matter how hard we strive to do things right we always sometimes end up failing in one thing or unable to carry out what we intended to do. We always mess things up no matter how efficient and effective we think we may be. Whenever we think that we've got everything under control, something comes up which tells us that the situation is not so. Things do not always happen as perfectly as we wanted it to be. Whenever we are on edge and have to do one thing after another or even have to do several things at a time we sometimes reach a point when we can't take anymore. This is because we are so limited in our capacities and capabilities. In times like these we tend to feel so depressed and exhausted that after so much effort nothing seems to be enough. It is when we should realize that through our imperfections and failings that we come into terms of the truth that we need God. We should find consolation in knowing that God does not have any shortcomings and failures and can always bring about perfectly in His time everything He intended to do. Through our baptism we all became sons and daughters of the Almighty God. Is there anything in this world that is worth more than this? Just think about this and be filled with the honor and glory bestowed to a beloved child of God. We are all called to this inheritance to be adopted sons and daughters of God through our Lord Jesus Christ who has purchased for us this privilege and honor. No one is excluded or exempted from this. It is just by our own choice and free will that we can get a hold of this for it has already been made available for us by Jesus our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. Hallelujah!

 Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

R: The Lord will bless his people with peace.

1 Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise, 2 give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over the mighty waters.

The voice of the LORD is power; the voice of the LORD is splendor. ..

 What further proof do we still need in order to truly believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior? We must come to this point where we achieve the peak of our faith and be truly confident of its deep meaning. Bottom line, it's about love, care and understanding no matter what activities we engage in and people we spend time with, as long as it's all done with these 3 things then our faith is always a reality in our lives.  What a privilege to be one of God's chosen witnesses. Everyday of our lives should be directed toward this goal that we may someday come face to face with God and be able to stand in His presence. Today’s 2nd reading also reminds me of my reflection several years ago about my visit to the Getty museum. As a Christian we must believe that there is no such thing as coincidence only divine providence. I could still remember when we (Sisters Bernadeth, Lucy, Marcy, and Rose) spent the entire day at the J. Paul Getty Museum. It was indeed a day of joy and gladness not only because of the wonderful and nice things we've seen at the Museum but also because of the very nice company we had in each other. There were lots of people who came to the museum that day and everyone who came had the chance of seeing the priced and valuable treasures that the Christian world holds very dear. In one of the exhibit rooms and the first place we had been were manuscripts of some parts found in the bible that dates way back in the year 800 AD. There were illustrations some with gold in paper of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, The story of Jephtha and his oath (can be found in the Book of Judges) (Regensburg, 1030-40; 1400-10)The Annunciation and The martyrdom of Isaiah, (Wurzburg, 1240-50)St. Michael battling the Dragon,  (Hildesheim, 1170s)St. Stephen by a painter named Circle of the Master of the Golden Bull (Prague, 1405) The Visitation (Strasbourg, 1500) and several of The Crucifixion (Steinfeld, 1180; Cologne by Master of St. Veronica, 1400-10; Franconia, 1475; Westphalia,1500-05; by Albrecht Altdorfer, 1520) These are just a few of the many and the earliest artworks they have preserved and depicts the truth about our God. There is really no doubt about the truth in today's 2nd reading since every human being has been given the privilege of knowing about our God and acknowledging Him as the one true God. For thousands of years people have been writing, painting, documenting amazing and wonderful things from different parts of the world. It is a consolation to know that although there are people, places and things that I've seen there that no longer exist today and is just a thing of the past but the message conveyed in every artwork about our Lord Jesus Christ still persist and remain intact, true and a masterpiece until the present time. It's good to know that we always have a choice. Whatever choices we make in life, let us be sure that each one of them is rooted in our belief in one Lord Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose again for our sake. We are all called to this inheritance to be adopted sons and daughters of God through our Lord Jesus Christ who has purchased for us this privilege and honor. No one is excluded or exempted from this. God is fair to all and plays no favorite for as long as we maintain the holy fear of the Lord and remain upright before Him. It is just by our own choice and free will that we can get a hold of this for it has already been made available for us by Jesus our Redeemer and Savior. Amen. Hallelujah!

Acts 10:34-38
...“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism. We recall in the 1st book of the bible in Genesis, the Spirit of creation but when Adam and Eve fell into sin the heaven was closed and they were cast out of it. In today’s gospel we read about the New Creation. John saw the heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending upon Jesus. Today is the day that we rejoice. We recall the day of our baptism, too when our sins were washed away and became sons and daughters of God. When we were baptized the Spirit descended upon us too. The Church knows no other means of salvation other than baptism which assures our entry to heaven.  In the book of Acts 16:30-33, Paul and Silas were freed from jail and when the jailer was about to kill himself they stopped him. The jailer asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. When we are baptized, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and become members of the Lord’s Mystical Body. There are more than 30,000 Christian denominations but what unites is our common baptism. We are temples of the Holy Spirit and co-heirs of the heavenly kingdom. If there's one thing that the devil wants to take from us then it is our inheritance from God as His sons and daughters. It is our deepest identity that should direct and form us. Jesus right after his baptism in the Jordan was tempted. Satan wants to attack His identity as in Matthew 4:3, The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread." In the same way, we are also tempted by Satan not to live out this filial relationship with God. We can’t let him do that. We praise and thank God that we share with Him this relationship and must hold on to it. It is a free gift that has been given to us today. Amen. Hallelujah!

Mark 1:7-11

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals...Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”