John 1:33
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"
We are still in the Christmas season and now into a new year. It's a time for new clothes and toys from gifts at Christmas; it's a time for a new and fresh start for the new year. Today in the first chapter of John's gospel we find John meeting Jesus and exhorting to the people that this Jesus is the one you've been waiting for. He will baptize in the Holy Spirit. It's a new baptism and all of your past sins have been washed away now that Jesus is here. He will take away the sin of the world through the sacrifice that he will make later in his life. He is the Lamb of God, the same Lamb that is slain and the one that we proclaim at the Eucharistic celebration. With a new year starting, why not resolve to ask Jesus to take away those past sins of the last year? Turn a new leaf and dedicate this year to going to church at least once a week. This will be the best gift you can give God and yourself this Christmas season and New Year.
