The Feast of the
Baptism of the Lord brings to a close the cycle of the Seasons of the Incarnation,
Advent and Christmas. At the same time,
it opens us to the first part of the Season known as Ordinary Time. This will last until Ash Wednesday (March 6)
and will then begin again after the great Lent-Easter-Pentecost cycle.
The name “Ordinary Time”
does not come from the idea of time being “ordinary.” Rather, it comes from the simple count, using
the “ordinal numerals”: first, second, third, etc., in sequence. “Ordinary Time” in the Liturgical Calendar is
a time of growth. We celebrate the same
Mysteries that are highlighted by the great seasons of the Incarnation and the
Paschal Mystery. God is with us through
Time. Jesus Christ lived, suffered, died
and rose from the dead to accomplish our salvation.
Living in Time, we
learn to ponder on the Mysteries in order to prepare for our plunging into them
when Eternity beckons. As we recall the Baptism
of the Lord, it is good for us to renew our awareness of the vows of our own Baptism. These are expressed first when we receive the
Sacrament of Baptism and then we renew them each Easter. We also express our Faith each Sunday and
Holy Day with the Creed.
Baptism makes us children
of God and opens the doorway to the Sacramental Life. It is a commitment and a promise of Life.
Here is the formula for
Baptismal Vows:
Priest/Deacon:
Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God's children? Response: I do.
Priest/Deacon:
Do you reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin? Response: I do.
Priest/Deacon:
Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness? Response: I do.
Priest/Deacon:
Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? Response: I do.
Priest/Deacon:
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the
Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is
now seated at the right hand of the Father? Response: I do.
Priest/Deacon:
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life
everlasting? Response: I do.
Priest/Deacon: This is our Faith. This is the Faith
of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
May
the Holy Spirit form us as a community of believers, one in mind and heart,
with Jesus, the Lord!
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