R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.
To those who accepted him,
he gave power to become children of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
He is the one of whom I said,
‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
I did not know him,
but the reason why I came baptizing with water
was that he might be made known to Israel.”
John testified further, saying,
“I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and remain upon him.
I did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain,
he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Wow, the insight that St. John the Baptist had regarding Jesus is rather inspiring, mysterious and amazing.  He sees Jesus coming toward him and he immediately states three revealed truths about Jesus:

• Jesus is the Lamb of God
• Jesus ranks ahead of John
• Jesus existed before John.

How would John know all of this?  What was the source of such sincere statements about Jesus? Most likely John would have studied the Scriptures of the time and would have known the many accounts about the coming Messiah spoken by the prophets of old.  He would have known the Psalms and the Books of Wisdom.   But primarily, John would have known what he knew by the gift of faith.  He would have true spiritual insight granted by God.  This fact reveals not only the greatness of John and the deepness of his faith, but reveals the belief we must strive for in life.  We need to strive to walk daily by true spiritual insight granted by God.

That is the attitude that allowed John to recognize Jesus. With a sincere understanding of his own idealistic vocation, John recognized something greater in Jesus, something that reflected more of God and more of God’s promised future. John uttered those mystery-filled words we repeat in each Eucharist, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” The grace that drove John in his vocation led him to recognize the grace that filled Jesus.

It is not that we must live, day by day, in some sort of an distinct, farsighted and mystical state.  It is not that we had better expect to have superior knowledge over others.   We need to be open to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as to gain knowledge and understanding of life that is beyond what ordinary human reason can obtain by its own effort.

John was clearly filled with Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude, Reverence and Wonder. These Gifts of the Spirit gave him an ability to live a life never-ending by the grace of God.  John knew things and understood things that only God could reveal.  He loved and worshipped Jesus with a passion and respect of his will that could only be inspired by God.  Most obvious, John’s holiness came as a significance of his union with God.

Reflect, today, upon this exceptionally insightful statement from John regarding Jesus.  John knew what he knew only because God was ALIVE in his life leading him and revealing these truths.  Commit yourself, this day, to an imitation of John’s deep faith and be open to all that God wants of you.

Deacon Anthony Falasca, Jr., Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

Did you ever ask someone what they feel is the most important day of their life? Some may say it was the day they were born. Some might say the day they graduated college or perhaps it was the day they were married. Some may say the most important day of their life will occur when they die and meet Jesus face-to-face.

And, if someone asked you what is or was the most important day of your life how would you answer?

Would you say the most important day of your life was the day you were baptized? That was the day when we were “spiritually conceived”; the moment that, as baptized persons, we became children of God and heirs of heaven.  

Baptism: Did you ever notice when the baptismal water is blessed at the Easter Vigil, the priest takes the newly lit Paschal Candle and lowers it into the water while saying, “May the power of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, we pray, come down through your Son into the fullness of this font, so that all who have been buried with Christ by Baptism into death may rise again to life with him.” The Paschal Candle symbolizes Christ, the Light of the World: and through this symbolic gesture the Church recalls how the waters of the Jordan River were purified and made holy. 

This is precisely what Jesus did at the Jordan River. “When [He] was baptized, the water did not do anything to Him, but He did something to the water; He gave it power to cleanse our sins” (P. Kreeft, 403). 

Jesus purified the waters of the Jordan so that, at Baptism, we may be sacramentally cleansed of Original Sin. He lowered Himself into the river to bless the water; to purify the water; to make the water holy so that we can be washed free from Original Sin. Just as Jesus entered the water to cleanse it, He enters our souls to do the same.

I should like to make another point: Green; the importance of keeping our planet clean. Whether it is renewable energy, cleaning up waste, or changing our lifestyles to keep from polluting our environment, Green is a laudable goal. After all, we can’t drink polluted water nor live on polluted land.

Isn’t it ironic that Green is also the color of this Liturgical Season that we call Ordinary Time? Long before the term the “Green” was fashionable Holy Mother Church recognized the importance – the magnitude – of keeping our souls Green. Yes, it is important to keep our environment clean but it is even more important to keep our souls clean. 

And that is what Baptism does; it wipes away Original Sin and gives us a fresh, clean start to our Christian lives. And it’s up to us to keep our souls clean and free from sin. Just as a body of water or toxic waste dump can be remediated, without vigilance the cleansed water or soil can easily become polluted and even more toxic than before. 

That’s what our soul goes through. We inherit Original Sin; Baptism cleanses our soul to its pristine beauty. Then, when we sin, our souls become polluted. And that’s when we need to acknowledge our spiritual pollution and seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation – the Sacrament of Confession.

Our challenge is to focus on our souls. That is why St. Louis de Montford states, “our Vows of Baptism [call us to] renounce Satan, his pomps and works [and] give [ourselves] entirely to Jesus Christ, to carry [our] cross after Him all the days of [our lives] and to be more faithful to Him than [we’ve] ever been before.

What else is there? Our souls have been washed in the Blood of Christ; now it’s up to us to keep them clean.

And, so, I ask, “What is the most important day of your life?” 

When you go home today, go through your important papers, look for your Baptismal Certificate, and write the date of your baptism on the calendar. When that day comes celebrate for that is the day you were reborn through water and the Spirit.

“John’s task [was] to make Jesus know to others” (Living with Christ, 146).

Our task is to bring everyone we meet to God. 

How can we share our awareness of Christ and His love for each of us? We can boldly proclaim with John, “Behold the Lamb of God”, for Jesus is the only one who can “[take] away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29).

Deacon Mark Izzo, Permanent Deacon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

The LORD said to me: You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I show my glory.
Now the LORD has spoken
who formed me as his servant from the womb,
that Jacob may be brought back to him
and Israel gathered to him;
and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,
and my God is now my strength!
It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

R. (8a and 9a) Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Sosthenes our brother,
to the church of God that is in Corinth,
to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy,
with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.