Blood, Love, Trust

This past Sunday was the Wedding Feast at Cana. I think it can be easily overlooked and seen as nice. But it's more than nice or something to be thought of and then forgotten. I was moved with the excerpt from the Magnificat reflection about the feast. Jesus said, "When I know that it is the fitting time for me to suffer, when my suffering will be profitable, then I will willingly suffer..." This has to do with his passion, and knowing when this would come about. "Because, having it in his power when to die, he did not yet see it fit to use that power...He had come, then, having it in his power when to die. And surely it would not have been right were he to die before he had chosen disciples...The hour then had not yet come, the fit time was not yet."

God's plans are not our plans. God's ways are not our ways. There is a perfect timing for everything, and I think as we go and journey through life we continue learning this wise and true statement. On the Sunday for the Wedding Feast at Cana, my sister and I decided to go to the Church where we were confirmed. I hadn't been to that Church in a while, but it was nice to see and be part of another parish. The priest in his homily mentioned coming to Jesus and trusting in Him relating to the Gospel of John 2:1-11. There was a problem, the fact that there was no more wine for the wedding guests. Mary intercedes and tells her son, and Jesus acts and makes all anew.

This was his first miracle and made his disciples to believe in him. This all tells the way in which God works, at the right time and through mysterious ways. There wasn't enough wine and Jesus made it in abundance, plentiful and filling to the brim. His grace, love and mercy is in abundance. At first, there needed to be jars filled with water. God's grace and mercy fills us in this way too, to quench our dryness, our doubts, troubles, sins. This water would be turned into wine, the good wine that Jesus gives us every time we go to Mass, his blood, his sacrifice,his mercy and deep and true love for us.

Having to do with sacrifice, this past Monday, January 21st was the feast day of St. Agnes. Her story proves one of love for Christ, her faith, purity and innocence. In a similar way, it matches St. Maria Goretti, my confirmation saint. Hers also reflects purity, innocence and a hate of sin but a strong love for God and conversion for her murderer.

On Tuesday, was the remembrance of the court case of Roe v. Wade and the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. Human life is sacred, beautiful, valuable and our country is still fighting the horror, evil and violations against life, woman and families on abortion. I still continue to pray for the end to abortion, those affected by it, and the conversion of abortionists and pro-choicers'. Prayer is powerful, as well as being a witness. I hope to continue being a witness and praying in front of a abortion clinic this year.

Jesus has given his life for us. His love has been shown bountifully and trusting in His timing, and will isn't always easy or certain, yet necessary if we ever want to live a life filled with faith, joy and trust. This week relates to the bloodshed with St. Agnes, as well as the millions of innocent children being killed and life and the safe space in their mother's womb to be erupted and taken from. Agnes trusted in God even until death just like Jesus upon the cross. And we are trusting in God's plan, and mercy for the unborn stripped of their natural right to life and dignity.

As the beautiful and well known Divine Mercy image from St. Maria Faustina depicts the Jesus's love and mercy says, 'Jesus, I trust in you.'

Baptism of the Lord

The Baptism of the Lord was celebrated yesterday. It is an important feast because it reveals so much. It marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning and return of Ordinary time. The longer stretch this year in Ordinary time is due to a later start to Lent as well as Easter. The Baptism of the Lord also highlights the beauty, the sacrament and the importance of baptism.

While at Mass yesterday, we happened to be sitting close by to an image of  Jesus being baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist. It was so relevant as Baptism is symbolic, meaningful and relevant to various things in the Church. I hadn't noticed before the Holy Spirit in the image of a dove lowered right above Jesus' head as water was being poured on to it. Somehow the image of the dove was hidden to my eyes, it looked camouflaged. But the Holy Spirit has an important role, in all of the Sacraments. In the sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit as the oil is put on our foreheads.

Yesterday's feast reminded me of the upcoming baptism for my new niece as well as my nephew in Spring. I do not remember my own baptism since I was only 3 months old, but I can read about it in my baby book. I know the Church where I was baptized, where the gathering was, who my God parents are and the day I was baptized which happens to be St. Vincent de Paul's feast day, September 27th. But I think a baptism can also relate to other things as well. Baptism is the first sacrament where a child, a baby or an adult is entered into the church. It's a cleansing of our sin and being welcomed into God's family, as His sons and his daughters.

However, our spiritual cleansing can also happen in the sacrament of reconciliation where our sins are forgiven and longer tied to our souls. We are cleansed. Perhaps in Mass or in adoration, we feel cleansed and purified. We are made anew, fresh to begin again. In the Magnificat reflection by Pope Benedict XVI he states, "...That event began the public ministry of Jesus on the roads of Palestine. The Baptism of Jesus at the Jordan is the anticipation of his baptism of blood on the cross, and it is the symbol of the entire sacramental activity by which the Redeemer will bring about the salvation of humanity."

This week as I look forward to my niece's baptism and my 10th anniversary of Confirmation, I pray the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and enlighten me while walking through this journey of faith. As Pope Benedict XVI states further in the reflection, "In this way everyone can tend to holiness, a goal that, as the Second Vatican Council recalled, constitutes the vocation of all the baptized."