Jesus was born on Christmas as a little baby laid in a manger. \u00a0What does this mean for us?<\/p>\n
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. \u00a0What does this mean for us?<\/p>\n
Jesus did many great miracles? \u00a0What does this tell us?<\/p>\n
Jesus teaches what it means to be a disciple. \u00a0Do we listen?<\/p>\n
Starting<\/em> at the Last Supper, Jesus gives us\u00a0his Body and Blood<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Jesus died for us on the Cross.<\/p>\n Jesus rose on the third day.<\/p>\n Jesus ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.<\/p>\n Together with the Father, Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n What does all this mean for us?<\/p>\n In today’s gospel<\/a>, Jesus tells Nicodemus we must be born from above. \u00a0Nicodemus misinterprets this to mean that we must literally be born again by reentering our mother’s womb to be born physically again. \u00a0Jesus then speaks of being “born of water and Spirit<\/em>.” \u00a0From this comes the idea of being ‘born again.’<\/p>\n Some evangelical groups will ask when were you ‘born again’, meaning when was the moment<\/em> that you turned your life over to Christ. \u00a0We can have powerful moments of conversion in our lives but our Catholic faith sees conversion as something ongoing in our lives. \u00a0As we listen to our first readings \u00a0from the\u00a0Acts of the Apostles<\/em>, we hear how the apostles faced trial and persecution. \u00a0\u00a0They did not flee in fear. \u00a0Instead, as our first reading<\/a> ends today, “As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued<\/strong> to speak the word of God with boldness<\/strong>.<\/em>”<\/p>\n Jesus’ birth, baptism, miracles, teachings, death, and Resurrection are meant to change our lives to be better disciples. \u00a0As the\u00a0Body and Blood of Jesus<\/strong><\/em>, the Eucharist strengthens us to live as his disciples. \u00a0May we grow each day in our relationship with Jesus, living as his disciples.<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jesus was born on Christmas as a little baby laid in a manger. \u00a0What does this mean for us? Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. \u00a0What does this mean for us? Jesus did many great miracles? \u00a0What does this tell us? Jesus teaches what it means to be a disciple. …<\/p>\n