St. Bernadette Catholic Church

We are now about two weeks into the new year and it's about this time that the new year resolutions are sorted out. Those that we made in earnest are still with us. Those that were just good thoughts are a now more than likely a guilty memory. But such is the way with resolutions and the weakness of human nature.

We can draw parallels to this in today's gospel reading. John declares that he bapitizes only with water. John is admitting that his effectiveness resides and is limited by human nature and power. Essentially, it is like us making new year resolutions. Sometimes it works, most of the time it doesn't take root. But with Jesus, it is different because He baptizes with the Spirit of God, the power of God. The change that comes about by this sort of baptism transforms the very heart of a person and brings on a power that rocks the world. In Jesus, John's baptism is perfected. We still need to make the resolution or resolve to live differently, but its success does not rely on our power but the power that comes from the Holy Spirit who transforms us and though us transforms our world.