24/12/2023

Christmas Day

To all who accepted The Word – Jesus, the Christ, he gave the power to become children of God. John had to use The Word rather than Wisdom because ‘wisdom’ in Greek is  ‘sophia’ and that is feminine.

We are blessed. In English, virtues do not carry any gender. So, we could, theoretically exchange ‘The Word’ with ‘God’s Wisdom’. However, I suspect The Vatican would not approve!

The ‘power’ are the graces, the gifts – we have received and which we are called to develop.

On January 6th, I am celebrating the baptism of a baby called Kit - short for Christopher, ‘Christ bearer’.

His parents have chosen Kit’s godparents – role models - from their friends; characters who as ambassadors on The Holy Spirit, will help Kit – by their example – to acquire the virtues they want their child to have: steadfastness,  courage, loyalty,  friendship and practical, life enhancing love for their friends, which should include their family.

As grace before meals, why not start each day – before your shower or bath – with thanking God for the day ahead?

Thanks to my baptism, as a child of God, I remember that noblesse oblige: the unwritten obligation of people from a noble ancestry to act honourably and generously to others.

I see my baptism as at least as important as my birthday. In fact it is the pass code for my iPlayer. If you are Prague you could go to the Church of Our Lady Victorious – in which you will find not only the statue of Baby Jesus of Prague but in their records, the date of my baptism. However, I trust you would not use it to hack into me Iplayer. 

Happy New Year!