“... AND HE SAID, ‘FOLLOW ME...’”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today we celebrate the gift of our Father in heaven, the gift of his Word. That Word is Jesus. That Word’s birthday we just celebrated as the Son of God and his revelation, his epiphany to shepherds, Wisemen, John the Baptist and those who lived during his ministry we recalled and are recalling.

The Gospel tells us that the Word began his ministry after his baptism and John’s arrest, by calling disciples to follow him. “As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew... and he said to them ‘follow me...’ ...Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John ... and he called them.” He called them with a clear direction, “Follow me.” Matthew tells us they followed him at once. In other words, they heard and experienced Jesus and immediately followed him.

Let us pray that we too will hear and experience that Word of God, who is Jesus and heed his calling by accepting to follow him this very moment.

Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

May the Word of God bless you.

Fr. Clement Paul.                   Rev. Stephen Joseph
Parish Priest.                         Parish Deacon.

“I AM THE WITNESS THAT HE (JESUS) IS THE CHOSEN ONE OF GOD.”
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today we continue to celebrate the revelation of the love of God, in and through, the person of Jesus. That revelation or Epiphany was seen all through Christmastide and continues into today where we have John the Baptist witnessing to that revelation by pointing out the Lamb of God and saying “I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.”

Today, too, we are being challenged to be the John the Baptist for the present. We are being called to point out the Word of God made human. We are being invited to say with John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God...” Yes, we are to so live each day that our lives say “I am the witness that he (Jesus) is the Chosen One of God”.

Today, therefore, remember that in the Acts of the Apostles chapter 1: Jesus himself says “You shall be my witnesses...”

Will you be another John the Baptist and say:
“I am the witness that he (Jesus) is the Chosen One of God...”

May the Word of God bless you.

Fr. Clement Paul.                   Rev. Stephen Joseph
Parish Priest.                         Parish Deacon.

“YOU ARE MY …, THE BELOVED.”

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan by John the Baptist. But why does Jesus, who knew no sin, have to be baptized?” some may ask. To answer that question, we need to recall the events are recounting and reliving, the birthday of Jesus, the visit of the Shepherds and the Maji, the flight into Egypt and now, the Baptism. All these say, and are saying, that Jesus was born as a fully human being so that we may be divine again.

Since he is fully human and human beings need to be baptized so that they could experience the peace and joy of the Kingdom of heaven, Jesus, in his humanity, needs to be baptized. In fact, since he assumed our human nature for all humanity, in and through the blessed Virgin Mary, his baptism makes it possible for us, through our baptism, to share in his divinity. So, today’s celebration is really a celebration of the baptism of human beings.

Let us renew our own baptism and strive to live up to our Christian calling through the baptism of Jesus and our own individual baptism. Do you know the date of your baptism and do you celebrate it?

Fr. Clement Paul.                   Rev. Stephen Joseph
Parish Priest.                         Parish Deacon.

“THEN OPENING THEIR TREASURES THEY OFFERED HIM GIFTS...”
 
Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today as we celebrate the Epiphany or Manifestation of the. Lord Jesus to every one, we do so by recalling Matthew’s account of the Magi or Wisemen searching for the “child born King of the Jews”. Notice that when they found the child with his mother, they opened their treasures and offered him gifts.

The feast challenges us to be the Magis today. That is, to be among those who search for the One who will save us from our sinfulness. Our search should be relentless until we find, or rather, experience the very One we are looking for. He is Christ the Lord.

As we experience him, let us offer him gifts from our treasures. Let us offer him our lives.
 
Fr. Clement Paul.                   Rev. Stephen Joseph
Parish Priest.                         Parish Deacon.