Love is at the Beginning

Who still remembers their New Year’s resolution? Perhaps you remember it with a rush of victorious adrenaline. I hope so. If you don’t and guilt edges your memory, then perhaps the Feast of Baptism of the Lord is for you.

This feast begins Ordinary time in our Catholic Church’s calendar. And we know time is anything but ordinary. Time inevitably brings birthdays, sicknesses, questions, dreams. And so the Church brings us to the banks of the Jordan River to begin Ordinary time. As Jesus is baptized, he hears a heavenly voice stating clearly, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17).

This is how Jesus begins his ministry. With the voice of the Father enfolding him in love. This is how we are invited to begin our new year, ordinary yet enfolded in love.

The word “begin” comes from the Old English beginnan, meaning “to attempt, undertake.” Let us begin with the Father’s love. Let us undertake 2023 with love meeting us at the banks of our dreams. And may our attempts bring us to the foot of the cross and into the light of Easter glory.

Check out our sisters’ New Year resolutions. Share yours in the comments and let's keep each other in prayer!