Born into Christ-life…BAPTIZED

FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD

27 MAY 2024   Monday 8 Ordinary Time

WORD of the DAY 
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.                                       (1 Peter 1: 3-9)

How shall I live this Word?   

These verses of the first letter of Peter show us how great and strong his experience of life and faith was after his encounter with Christ Jesus in his life. In a few words, Peter offers us clearly the foundations of our Baptism. He begins by blessing God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has regenerated us. In the rite of Baptism, a fundamental part is that of immersion in water to be regenerated to a new life in Christ. We have been regenerated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Peter expresses another pillar of our faith: Christ dead and risen for us, is the subject of our faith. For a living hope, for a legacy that is not corrupted, with these deep words, Peter goes beyond time and space. His faith is so contagious that he is able to express great truths. It continues with an exhortation to live in joy, born of faith and the hope of daily living even in the midst of the trials of life, until we reach the goal of our faith: the salvation of souls. We receive this message as an invitation to make a verification of our faith and our experience in ordinary life and we ask ourselves: do I really believe that I am regenerated in Christ Jesus? Do I believe in Him? In His Word?

CREED OF OUR FAITH

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.!

The voice of THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Holy Baptism is the foundation of all Christian life, the entrance vestibule to life in the Spirit and the door that opens access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism, we are freed from sin and regenerated as children of God; we become members of Christ; we are incorporated into the Church and made partakers of her mission: Baptism can be defined as the sacrament of Christian regeneration through water and the word. (No. 1213)

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