January Reflection
The Baptism of the Lord
" This is my son the beloved my favour rests on him."
The church, the people of God, throughout the world this weekend will celebrate the great feast of the Baptism of the Lord at the hands of his cousin and the last of the old testament prophets John the Baptist. Following his baptism Jesus began his great work of healing, caring, loving and forgiving which lead him to his suffering and death in order that each of us could be saved.

This feast affords us the great opportunity at the beginning of 2005 to renew our own baptismal vows in which we reject Satan and the evil that he spreads through human weakness. We pray that the good Lord Jesus will help us to live good and Christian lives. Lives that are grounded in the Sacraments, the scriptures and the teachings of his Church. In this year of the Eucharist may those who have strayed from God through the influence of the evil one return to the fold of Jesus through our prayers and example.

The renewal of baptismal promises (vows) can be said at any time in the course of the year. Please keep this newsletter for your own personal renewal when ever you feel the need to bring Jesus back into your lives.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises
Through the paschal mystery
we have been buried with Christ in baptism, so that we may rise with him to a new life.
Let us renew the promises we made in baptism when we rejected Satan and his works,
And promised to serve God faithfully in his holy Catholic Church.
And so:
Do you reject Satan? I do

And all his works? I do

And all his empty promises? I do

Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? I do

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. I do

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? I do

God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins.
May he also keep us faithful to Our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.
Amen