My Beloved
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January 11, 2025In the Gospel on this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord,a voice came from heaven saying: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22). By virtue of our own baptism, we too have become sons and daughters of the heavenly Father and are called to live a life pleasing to Him. This identity is indissoluble and this is the grace of God in the sacrament of Baptism.
In the Second Reading from the Letter of Paul to Titus,he underlined the goodness of God, the salvation we have received is not because of our righteousness but because of his grace. “For when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5). God’s treatment to us is much better than what we deserve and this is the hope that we hold on to. Although this grace is unmerited favor, the invitation tous is to remain pleasing to the Father. St. Paul’s Letter to Titus made this clear, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled,upright, and godly” (Titus 2:11-12). To remain pleasing to the Father is to renounce worldliness and embrace holiness.
Having in mind this unmerited grace of Baptism and toremain pleasing to Him, this great Jubilee year 2025 which comes to us every 25 years is a continuous manifestation of God’s kindness and mercy, a reminder that we are His beloved children and as such, we have the responsibility to inspire everyone to hope for better things to come. We are reminded of the words of Pope Francis in his February 2022 letter announcing the Jubilee 2025:: “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.
The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire…” With this reminder of Pope Francis, we take a moment to pray the Jubilee 2025 Prayer:Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your Son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of yourKingdom.May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos inthe sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God,eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Amen
