Remembering Our Own Baptism

Baptism of the Lord (and end of the Christmas season): Jesus joins the people going out to John the Baptist in the gesture of repentance, not because there is sin in him, but to make it possible for us to share in his relationship with the Father, announced from the heavens. He goes to the Baptist as a beggar because he takes upon himself our misery. The Lord Jesus lowers himself in his baptism and acknowledges his Father so that we will never hesitate to do the same...

(from Magnificat)

 

The Name

Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, Jan. 3:  “Are you troubled? Think but of Jesus – speak but the name of Jesus, the clouds disperse and peace descends anew from heaven. Have you fallen into sin?...invoke the name of Jesus and you will soon feel life returning. No obduracy of the soul, no weakness, no coldness of heart can resist this holy name...” -- St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church

To know someone's name implies an intimacy with them.  Let's treasure our intimate relationship with our Lord.