My brothers and sisters in Christ, let us use this Lenten season to truly repent of our sins and go back to God like the prodigal son did by recognizing our sins, acknowledging them as wrong, being contrite and remorseful for them, confessing them in the sacrament of reconciliation, making amends for them, and sincerely renewing our spiritual lives.
We can utilize this second chance given us today to come back to God and bear much fruit by being compassionate to others; by being forgiving to them; and by being patient with all.
This Lenten season pray well because prayer strengthens your faith, provides guidance and wisdom, fosters a deeper relationship with God, and helps you resist temptation and overcome challenges. Secondly, fast because fasting helps you deepen your prayer life, become more humble and develop a closer relationship with Christ. Lastly, give Alms because it pleases God, brings you more blessings, curbs your greed, and helps you show compassion and love for others.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, since the devil is persistent and relentless in trying to make us fall into sin by constantly tempting us, let us like Christ live out our gospel values knowing that God is with us by being spiritually alert and vigilant; by praying always; by mortifying our bodies; and by being humble.
My dear friends in Christ, let us listen to Jesus in today’s gospel reading and try our very best to fight hypocrisy in all its forms by being transparent, reliable and trustworthy in leading others closer to God; by being loving, kind, understanding and sympathetic towards our brothers and sisters; and lastly, by being honest, sincere, hardworking and efficient in our spiritual lives so as to bear good fruit that will last.
Let us model our lives after Jesus’s example; by serving and helping others; by living a sacrificial life for the sake of others; by being loving, patient, kind, and gentle to others as God is to us; by living our lives in total submission to God's will; and by working diligently, because our reward will be great in heaven and we will be true children of the Most High as stated by Jesus in today’s gospel reading.
Hence my brothers and sisters in Christ, like today’s first reading and gospel reading teaches us, let us bypass the pleasures of this world by truly trusting in God and always pleasing Him, so as to receive the eternal reward - the unlimited happiness of heaven set up apart for us.
Since Humility is the first and most important step toward a life of holiness and the foundation of all virtues, let us live humbly before God and deepen our relationship with Him by always acknowledging our lowliness and sinfulness before Him like Prophet Isaiah, St. Paul and St. Peter did in today’s readings. Always remember the words of St. Augustine that states, “the way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third, through humility”
My brothers and sisters, let us go out like Simeon and Anna to praise, adore, worship and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Light and a of the world.
Today my dear friends, we are reminded by St. Paul in our Second Reading of how blessed we are as God’s children; and of these blessings or gifts or talents God has given us. So let us follow the example of Jesus in today’s Gospel Reading and go into the world to put those gifts, talents, abilities and blessings we have received from God to good use for the greater glory of His Holy Name.
So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, rejoice and be glad because our LORD delights in us, for we are a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem held by our God. Worship, praise and adore God wholeheartedly and always, then like Jesus in the gospel reading, go out into the world and put to good use, the spiritual gifts God has bestowed on you as St. Paul informed us in today’s Second Reading.
So my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ today, let us once again meditate on the importance and significance of the Sacrament of Baptism in our lives as Catholic Christians and strive to utilize its fruits to proclaim and live out the Gospel of Christ in our world today.
So my brothers and sisters in Christ, it is time as stated by Prophet Isaiah in today’s First Reading to rise up in splendor, because our light (Jesus Christ) has come, and His glory has shone upon us. Hence, let us go out into the world and manifest our Lord to all in our thoughts, words and actions by totally trusting in God and constantly worshiping Him.
So my brothers and sisters, let us go and make our families holy like the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph today by making God the center of our families and by truly and sincerely loving one another.
My brothers and sisters, as we come closer to birth of Christ, let us not forget the message of Christ’s coming into our world and our lives, which is, to do the will of God. So let us do the will of God by practicing love always, by being faithful to God and by being humble.
