what's my word for the year?

Homily

2nd Sunday or Ordinary Time A

15 January 2023

St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center at the University of Kansas

AMDG

Do you have a word for the year?  Mine is aggression!

Aggression? That doesn't sound very nice or pastoral, does it? Are priests supposed to be aggressive?  Well, in light of today's Gospel, I think aggression is a great word!

I'm tired of losing my own soul and the souls of those entrusted to me.  Good enough can't be good enough anymore.  John the Baptist tells us the difference.  A baptism of repentance merely cleanses us from the outside in, so we can get along, get by and get on.  A baptism by Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, and fire, leads to transformation, and makes all things new.

What do you want in this new year, and new semester?  Ask boldly for what you want!  I want to be a real spiritual father to the KU Catholic family, a father who weeps when his children weep, and rejoices when they rejoice.  I want to accompany my kids through the ups and downs of life, showing them how much God and I believe in their ability to write the greatest stories of this generation.

John the Baptist says clearly why he exists!  He exists to baptize with water so that we can recognize the one who will baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire!  John the Baptist point to the one who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus comes to take away sin, not the punishment due to sin.  There's a big difference!  A baptism of water might save us from damnation.  A baptism by the Holy Spirit recreates us to participate in the very life of God!  The baptism we have all received is the latter - it is not merely a washing away of our sins, it is a capacity to sin no more, and to live the fullness of love and happiness for which we are made.

What do you want in 2023?  What's your word?  I want to aggressively pursue this new kind of life, that is not just getting by or getting away or getting along with sin, but leaving it behind, and participating and cooperating aggressively in the paschal mystery of Jesus for the salvation of my own soul and for the redemption of the world!

Aggression!  It's the way to use my anger at the way things are as energy to participate in something new.  

I invite you not to settle for a baptism of repentance, a cleansing on the outside only, a reprieve from the punishment due to sin.  Let yourself dare again the baptism by the Holy Spirit and fire, so that you can aggressively go forth as a missionary disciple, participating and cooperating boldy in the reason why you exist, and go forth into a future to sin no more!