Familiar and Always Renewed

The Scripture selected today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary seems to invite the question “Haven’t we been here before?” The answer is yes. The Church marks the last Sunday in the Christmas season today with the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. We have heard these texts in the Christmas Season. Jesus Baptism for us is the grace of the indwelling Spirit which Luke describes as linking Jesus and the Father in the relationship which we share as children of God and siblings of Jesus. It is a relationship that is at the same time, eternal and constantly renewed. Our side of the covenant is subject to our becoming distracted and as Titus writes, by “impiety and worldly passion”. This wavering from our relationship needs to be replaced by”lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly”. We are reminded, as we return to the Promise of the Incarnate, of this immeasurable grace which is eternally offered to us not through our merit but through Divine mercy and forgiveness.