Not that long ago my nephew and I were travelling together
and I decided to take the 407. To be honest it was because I was running a
little late and wanted to make up some time. Once we got on the 407 the bumper
to bumper traffic of the 401 was a distant memory. Even my nephew noticed it
and responded – “this is a “super highway!”
Baptism offers us the off ramp to a super highway to
know the one who Himself told us: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” This
event at the Jordan was a profoundly
significant moment in the history of Israel, in the story of Jesus, and in
the lives of all His followers. Our mission—empowered by our Baptism into Christ, and
identified with Christ is to carry out Christ’s mission to all peoples. Today’s
readings spell out for us the dimensions of this vision and mission but they
also, as we end our Christmas celebrations, lead us to ask ourselves
what we have been doing since our Baptism – what has your move been?
For this reason we begin a
message series which will span the next four weeks entitled “Your Move.” Its
goal and purpose is to lead us in reflecting, especially as we begin this New
Year, upon the call of Discipleship and the fulfillment of our Baptism…how have
we been acting as “beloved” in the Lord? The series begins with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which invites us to consider our relationship with the Lord and then moves to the Gospel story of the Wedding Feast of Cana and the perfect Disciple - Mary the Mother of God.
During this past month of
January we have been reflecting on our relationship with God. Our Good Good
Father is one on whom we can Cast our Cares. He calls us - He knocks on the
door of our heart - and it’s your move - if you respond.
During Week #1, we will look at the need to trust His voice. God’s voice is for Good, and when we do, we
take the first step - Listen and Look. Listen to message of gracious goodness
that God offers and we Look at the area of our life that God is calling us to
open or close - so His grace may grow within
During Week #2, we will accept that our failures need not be final or fatal but that we take our mistakes in
life and turn them into stepping stones for superior success if we simply
follow the example and advice of the Perfect Disciple – Mary – and in reference
to Jesus : “ do what ever He tells
you.”
This advice helps us to discern
and look for the signs of the Lord and ask ourselves “what is gripping you, and
is it from the Lord?” It helps us to search in prayer and find what His Word
says and then to seek His peace! Even with this peace we may feel there are
moments of not enough - time, resources, abilities, courage - all these grip us,
but our God can transform...in fact He
wants to.... but first we must make Him our reference point and desire a happy
soul with our Reference Point - Jesus
Christ as the one on whom we cast our cares.
During Week # 3 we will ask
ourselves if we have the Disposition
and the trait of Docility. Christ lived
with the full knowledge that His life was not His own - God the Father chose
Him at Baptism (my beloved) but it was His move to allow it to be fulfilled. His life was not His own. He was not just the carpenter’s son – He was
the Son of God – beloved and chosen. His move would be for the Father!
Our final week will lead us to ask if we consumers of our faith or committed to being disciples of the
Lord as we walk in faith with Him as our reference point always. After all our
lives are His? It’s your move.