Today's Thoughts - 01/06/2017

​Today’s Thoughts: Our readings today from the First Letter of John and Mark’s Gospel are as full of symbolism. Water, blood and the Spirit are symbols of the sacraments of initiation; Baptism, the Eucharist and Confirmation.  We see all these sacraments in our readings today. 
 
John in his First Letter tells us that water, blood, and the Spirit, who is truth, witness to the humanity, mission, and divinity of Jesus.  In the Gospel, we encounter the scene of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. We hear about the descent of the Holy Spirit that then sends Jesus into the desert and ultimately into his ministry, and his confirmation as the Beloved Son of the Father.
 
In the Christmas season song, the Twelve Days of Christmas we hear the refrain - My true love gave to me…. Perhaps, from our reading we might say that God, is our true love and life the song God has given his love to us abundantly. God has given us his Son, his love, his Mercy, his Truth, his Spirit. God has given us faith, hope, freedom, life, contentment, security, and peace.
 
What does God’s true love ask of us? To continue Jesus’ mission, to set the captives free, give sight to the blind, forgive debts, to bring glad tidings to the poor, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.  We are to ‘be Christ’ to others through our gifts. We are to be people of faith, hope and love.  We are to take what we believe put it into action, daily, for life.  We are called to bring forth God’s love abundantly.
 
Have a great Friday everyone!