Baptismal Grace Sustains - Fr. Micah - January 3, 2021

Today on the Sunday before Epiphany the Gospel reading comes to us from Mark 1:1-8. Saint Mark links together for us repentance, the coming of Christ, His Kingdom and the Holy Spirit all in Baptism. Father Micah reflects on the Grace that comes from the Baptismal font and he reminds us as Orthodox Christians we should often think about the significance of our own Baptism and allow it to affect each and every day of our lives. In Baptism we are given a freedom not to be defined by our past but remade by our future. Baptism is a repentance dying to the old life of sin and death and raised to a new life in Christ Jesus. After Baptism we are Chrismated and receive the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit who is intimately linked to the Kingdom of God. By receiving the ointment of Holy Chrismation, we are stamped and no longer belong to this world. We are citizens of The Kingdom yet to come and as kings and queens must rule over our bodies and minds. Our lives are to become a mystical dance of gratitude with God. The Holy Spirit makes present to us the King of Glory, who allows us to be spiritually nourished with His Body and Blood at each Divine Liturgy.