Falling and Rising

Sunday was the feast of the Baptism of Jesus. That was two days ago but still the voice of our pastor keeps ringing in my ears... "falling and rising, falling and rising". Thirty years after His birth, He was baptized in the river Jordan by His cousin, John, when the heavens opened and the Spirit came down like a dove to rest upon Him. Then the voice of the Father thundered: 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased' (see Mt 3:16-17). Thus, began His public ministry. Three years into His death, we see His falling and rising... rejected and praised, falling and rising... doubted and trusted, and finally falling and rising... crucified and resurrected.

Everyday, we experience the falling and rising rhythm... break up and make up, slipping away and coming back, sickness and good health, failure and success, tears and laughter, sadness and joy. But they are just sections of a bigger work of art that is life. Baptism is the first sacrament, a visible sign (water) of an invisible reality (Holy Spirit), we receive. As I remember my own baptism, I am also reminded that I follow Him who came BEFORE me... that every time I fall, I rise WITH Him... how grateful I am because He did it FOR me... He did it FOR you, too!


- no Angel-