Keeping Eyes Fixed on Jesus-Newly Baptized in the Church-2019

Jesus, his message, his powerful words and actions continue to have great appeal into the 21st century.  I read with interest a hopeful religion article in the New York Times today titled, "Becoming Catholic as the Church Grapples With Scandal," by Rick Rojas. It tells about the thousands of newly baptized Catholics who entered the Church at the Easter Vigil this year and that's just in the Tri-State area. There are thousands more throughout the country. They were aware of the Church scandals and the horrific stories but they choose to look past that, to realize the Church and the teachings of Jesus are so much more than the failings, as horrific as they are.  They yearned for the beautiful rituals, the sacraments which can heal and help in this uncertain world, reverence for Mary, the Mother of God, the saints and their wisdom and witness and to be part of the Holy Roman Catholic Church founded by Christ.
Today in the gospel reading, Jesus proclaimed that He is in the Father, and those who saw him, saw the Father. Considered by some to be blasphemous talk in His time, he was laying the foundation for the knowledge and teaching of the Trinity, through Divine revelation. Three Divine persons in one God. The Trinity, the greatest mystery that has ever existed, was formulated over centuries by Church theologians, scholars and interpreters of Scripture.
People of every age yearn for truth, they yearn to be a part of something greater than themselves. The teachings of Jesus are timeless and can fill a great void, in one's life, as these newly baptized in the Church can attest to.  Also belonging to a faith community is a great gift.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide them and give them Christian hope and love.  As Cardinal Tobin, archbishop of Newark told those who had entered into the Church at the Easter Vigil Mass, "You'll always have a home here with us." Very powerful words indeed.
NJA

John 14:6-11
"Jesus said to Thomas, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know the Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said to him, 'Master, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ' Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me or else believe because of the works themselves......."



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