My friends, I don’t know about you, but I have always looked forward to new beginnings – a new year, a new job, a new class – whatever it might be because with each new event, there is the opportunity to “do better,” what I may have attempted before, or simply to try something new that I have never done. All these new beginnings bring hope – a virtue that we must hold onto in these very trying times!

   Today, we see our brother Jesus beginning a new phase of his life – his public ministry, and he begins by doing, in his mind, “what is right” – baptism by John.  Putting ourselves into the heart and mind of Jesus, he probably had a sense as he came to know himself, and his abilities, that on the one hand, he had “a light” to share with others, and at the same time, a realization that the strength, we might say, grace, that would come to him through his baptism by John, was something that would help him immensely in his life of service, for and with others. 

   I think my friends, it is important for each of us to remember and never forget that our brother Jesus, as one of us, was completely human, thus he needed to deal with all the human emotions, pains and joys that each of us does.  If Jesus will ever be someone that we can follow, this piece – his completely human self must not be set aside, in deference to his spiritual-divine self.  There had to be a balance between the two natures, wherein Jesus, like us, had to continually say “yes” to the good, or better, and “no” to all that was not good, not about love. 

   Prior to Jesus’ baptism account in today’s gospel, we heard of how he was tempted in the wilderness – the struggle we all face between power and control in our lives, and the good we are capable of when choosing “the right,” or likewise, the evil we are capable of, for ourselves, and others, if we do not choose wisely. 

   If we choose wisely as Jesus did consistently throughout his earthly life – his “light,”  his actions in our world, ours will probably resemble his as spoken of today by the prophet Isaiah:

• You will bring justice to the nations…
• You will not break a bruised reed or quench a wavering flame…
• You will be a light…to open the eyes of the blind – last week you will recall that we talked about “a-ha moments,” and one of you said, “that in order to have such a moment, we must listen to others.” 
• The prophet continues – you will free captives from prison…here it is good to remember that people live in captivity, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually too.  Our ability to reach out to others in love, to listen, to try and understand another’s pain can do so much toward “freeing” others in whatever ways they may be held captive.

   And our God who sees it all will let us know that we have “ chosen wisely” by the peace we experience in our hearts. 

   So, how do we really know that our choices may not have been the best, for ourselves and for others? The lack of peace and goodwill that tends to swirl about those who choose selfishly, with no regard for others, would seem to be an indication.  And, at the end of the day, whether we choose rightly, or wrongly, we may not always be sure, but for the most part, peace should be present when our choices have been about justice, compassion, care, and love. 

   When we keep our eyes on Jesus, and his actions, I think we are more apt to see our God  as Jesus did – with awe and reverence, instead of fear.  “Fear of God” as addressed in the 2^nd reading from Acts today, I would suggest is better understood through the original Hebrew word, “yirah,” which means, wonder, honor, and a much more positive view of God than the word, “fear” gives us. Jesus, our brother gave us this more positive view of his Abba God, through his entire earthly life with us. 

   So my friends, with today’s gospel,  we get a positive view that our brother Jesus is here, as an adult, come to fruition through an earlier life of love and support given by his human parents, Mary and Joseph, as we spoke of during Advent.  Again, he probably learned of what God truly wanted from him, a bit at a time, just as we come to understand the “piece” that is ours to do, as Saint Francis of Assisi always encouraged his followers – we can only do what is ours to do.  And if we don’t do our part, shine our own particular “light,” that “piece of God,” as Sister Joan Chittister is fond of saying, will not be shown to our world!  Now, there is a responsibility…

   And if we are looking for concrete examples in both Church and State of choosing unwisely, today’s world has enough to go around.  Beginning with our own Church, so many times over the years of my life, and the lives of others, when imploring the hierarchical men “to change,” some outdated law that no longer serves, we hear, “the Church moves slowly.”  I, for one, would encourage them to get “a move on!” Such a statement given as an excuse for why they haven’t made the changes that the “sensus fidelium” – the voice of the people who have for so long been asking is an insult to the memory of Jesus of Nazareth.  The Spirit of the Living God is forever renewing the face of the earth, and she speaks to the laity as well as to the clergy. 

   Our Church needs women deacons and priests, it needs women in leadership now, it needs a compassionate and loving response to the wonders and awe in all created human life –LGBTQ’s and more, animals and plants upon our beautiful earth, and voices that aren’t afraid to speak truth to power, now!

  The state of our country is obvious to all who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and now is the time to engage our hearts as well.  Our baptisms call us to all this and more, and if we don’t know where to start, the practice of doing each thing that we do each day, inordinately well, the “light we shine” for others will be reflected and passed on.

Amen? Amen!