“The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts…”
Luke 3:15
My daughter’s baptism last year was one of the best days of my life. I felt expectation and excitement in the Cathedral of St. Jude as our family and friends awaited the initiation of the newest little member of the Catholic family, our beloved little girl, as she was washed of original sin, received the Holy Spirit, and received a call to share God’s light in the world. The joy we felt was twofold: wonder at the incomprehensible love gifted to us from God through our daughter and sacramentally, and delight at being surrounded by loved ones who wish to support us and our daughter throughout her life and faith journey.
As parents, her father and I were also asking questions in our hearts. Wondering things like: Who she will choose to be? Will she fall in love with the Lord early on in life? Will she be outgoing or more reserved in nature? Will she like soccer or music? Might she be called to marriage or religious life? What trials will she face? We have many wishes and dreams for her. Moreso, we have hope, though, knowing that she is God’s beloved daughter first and foremost. It is our job as parents to be the first and primary teachers of her faith, as the catechism tells us, and to make sure we neither take lightly this role nor sleepily delegate it.
Wishes, though fun, can fade as quickly as a Disney firework. Hope, rooted in the Lord, can be like the Baptismal candle, lit each year on a Baptism anniversary, or perhaps during a special time of family prayer. Hope gets renewed by continued connection with the Lord and with our faith community. Making time for fellowship reminds us we are not alone on this journey, even when it seems unbearably difficult. Making time for prayer gives us a chance to slip into peaceful rest, enjoying the quiet of a flickering candle, and allowing a moment for God to breathe on us the same words He spoke to Jesus at his baptism, “YOU are my beloved son/daughter.”
Find and light your baptismal candle. Gather around it, either as a family or on your own, and read this gospel passage together. If you are a parent, tell your kids that they are your beloved son/daughter, and how you rejoice in them not for what they do but simply for who they are. If you are reflecting by yourself, quietly ask the Lord to speak the truth of your identity to your heart: your belovedness in His sight.
Father God, may we be pleasing to You in all we do, just like Your Son.
Today’s Reflection is by:
Sarah Williford
Did you know...
After 10+ years in faith formation and youth ministry, Sarah Williford’s new adventure is rocking the mom life at home with her new daughter and some side hustles. She thrives on a good cup of tea, layered harmonies, quirky comedies, Adoration, and her husband, Ryan. You can catch her at the Saint Jude Moms Group on Wednesday mornings.
