This Sunday marks the end of our Christmas Season as we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The sacrament of Baptism serves as the gateway to the other sacraments. Jesus began his public ministry after being baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
Then this coming Saturday, January 18th, we begin the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. During this week, our bishops ask us to unite in prayer with our Christian brothers and sisters. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, spoke of the bond of unity and sharing that should mark the lives of all Christians. He has issued a call for unity focused on love, as reported by the media outlet “Catholic News Service,” stating, “Only a love that becomes gratuitous service, only the love Jesus taught and embodied, will bring separated Christians closer to one another.” Pope Francis also noted that “Prayer for unity is the primary responsibility in our journey together. And it is a sacred responsibility because it means being in communion with the Lord, who prayed above all to the Father for unity.”
Unity was also an important part of the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he sought to unite all people through a message of love. Our nation celebrates the legacy of Dr. King, and we honor him in a special way on Monday, January 20th. We honor him for his work in promoting the fundamental dignity of the human person regardless of skin color. He first served the Lord as an eloquent and effective preacher. Then the Lord called him to lead a great struggle against the grave injustice of racial inequality. At great risk to his personal safety and that of his family, he humbly responded in faith and worked tirelessly to lead the struggle for civil rights in this country. He focused on a message of love, stating, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”
In honoring the legacy of Dr. King, we recognize the great strides that our country has made in overcoming the racial injustices of the past as many hearts and minds have been changed. We also realize that much still needs to be done to heal the wounds and divisions that continue to exist. People of goodwill need to strive to further enhance the dignity of the human person and foster a true sense of unity.
As we reflect on the profound words of Pope Francis and Dr. King, and as we continue in this New Year, we are invited to pray that hearts and minds will continue to be changed and that a true sense of harmony and unity will be embraced.
The Parish office is closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Holiday, January 20th, 2024.