Today begins the week of prayer for Christian Unity. In the opening prayer for today’s Mass we prayed, “…hear the pleading of your people and bestow peace in our times.” Given the division going on is our world, our country, and our church, I can’t think of any more urgent prayer: “Peace in our times.” But what would this peace look like.
First, peace is NOT defined as the absence of war or conflict. Peace (in the Biblical sense) is that we live in RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God, one another, creation, and ourselves. It seems to me that this notion of right relationship is the reason why the Church has selected the Gospel according to John’s account of the Baptism of Jesus only one week after we celebrated the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord.
Baptism is a defining event in most, if not all Christian denominations. If a person seeks full communion with the Catholic Church, we more often than not do not rebaptize as long as the baptism was done with water and the words “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit” were said. But what exactly does Baptism do, and why did Jesus need to be baptized if He was/is sinless?
I like to say that Jesus entered the waters of the Jordan river clean and symbolically took upon Himself the sins of humanity. His was not a baptism of repentance (since He had no sin to repent of) but rather was a Baptism of solidarity with sinners which all of us are. We are baptized into Christ’s baptism of solidarity, and at the same time cleansed of original sin. As we say in the Creed, “…one baptism for the forgiveness of SINS.” Sin divides us; the grace of Christ heals and unites us.
All of us need the healing, forgiving grace of Christ. And with that healing and forgiving comes the mandate to live as a healed forgiven person in the world. Our primary identity is Christ…not following any particular political leader or party; not defining ourselves through the lens of gender or sexual identity. As St. Augustine wrote, “Rejoice O Christian, for by your baptism YOU are more than a Christian, YOU are CHRIST Himself.”
This week let’s look on all the people we encounter as other Christ’s. If we begin to look at one another differently then maybe we will begin to treat each other differently. This week, when we plead for the unity of all who call themselves Christian, let’s ACT like Christ Himself.
Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, and it’s worth starting with the obvious question people have been asking for centuries: Why does Jesus get baptized at all?
John’s baptism was about repentance. It was for people who needed to turn their lives around. So why does the sinless Son of God step into that same muddy Jordan River? And the answer is simple—but not shallow. Jesus doesn’t enter the water because He needs to be cleansed. He enters the water because we do. This moment is not about Jesus changing. It’s about the water changing.
By stepping into the Jordan, Christ sanctifies the waters of the world. From that point on, water is no longer just water. It becomes a place of encounter—where heaven touches earth, where God chooses to act.
And notice what happens. The heavens open. The Spirit descends. The Father speaks.
This is one of the clearest moments in the Gospels where the Trinity reveals itself—not in theory, not in a creed, but in an event. God shows us who He is by what He does. And what does the Father say? “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Not after Jesus has performed a miracle. Not after He’s preached a sermon. Not after the Cross. Before all of it.
Which tells us something important: Jesus is loved not forwhat He does, but for who He is.
And here’s where this feast turns toward us. Because in our baptism, something very similar happens—whether we remember it or not. The heavens are opened. The Spirit is given. And the Father claims us. You may not have heard a voice from the clouds. Most of us were infants, after all. But the Church dares to say that the same truth spoken over Jesus is spoken over you: You are my beloved child. I delight in you. Not because you’ve earned it. Not because you’ve gotten everything right. But because you belong to Christ.
The Baptism of the Lord marks the end of Christmas, but it also marks the beginning of mission. Jesus comes up out of the water and immediately moves toward the desert, toward ministry, toward the world as it actually is.
Which reminds us: baptism is not a private comfort—it’s a public calling. We are baptized not just from something—sin, death—but for something: to live as sons and daughters who know they are loved and therefore are free to love in return.
So today, as Christmas fades and ordinary time begins, the Church quietly asks us one question: Do you remember who you are? Not your job. Not your failures. Not your worries. But this: You are baptized. You are claimed. You are beloved. And that is where the Christian life always begins.
I would like to share with you a reflection someone has sent me on the World Day of Peace.
Established by Pope Paul VI in 1967, the World Day of Peace is celebrated annually on January 1st, coinciding with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. It was inspired by the encyclicals Pacem in Terris (John XXIII) and Populorum Progressio (Paul VI), the first observance was held on January 1, 1968.
Each year, the Pope publishes a formal message addressed not just to Catholics, but to “all men of good will” and heads of state. This message serves as a magisterial declaration on social doctrine, covering issues like human rights, economic justice, and international diplomacy.
The theme for the 59th World Day of Peace (January 1, 2026) is “Peace Be With You All: Towards an ‘Unarmed and Disarming’ Peace.” It emphasizes that peace should not be rooted in fear or weapons (“unarmed”) and must have the power to open hearts and resolve conflict (“disarming”).
The “Spirit of Assisi” is a landmark concept in Catholic interreligious dialogue, born from the World Day of Prayer for Peace held on October 27, 1986. Initiated by Pope John Paul II, it brought together 160 religious leaders—including Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, and traditional African religions—to the birthplace of St. Francis to pray for peace during the Cold War.
The original 1986 gathering was a bold response to the Cold War’s height. For the first time in history, the Catholic Church did not invite other faiths to convert or debate, but to stand side-by-side.
John Paul II was careful with his language to avoid the charge of “syncretism”—the blurring of distinct religious identities into a vague, single faith. He famously stated that they had not come to “pray together,” but to “be together to pray.” Each tradition was given its own space to offer prayers according to its own rites, after which they walked in silence together toward the Basilica of St. Francis.
While the event was hosted by the Vatican, its success depended on how non-Christian traditions viewed the invitation. For many, it was a move from being “objects of mission” to “partners in peace.”
For the Muslim delegations, the Spirit of Assisi resonated with the Quranic injunction that God created different nations and tribes “that you may know one another” (49:13). Many Muslim leaders viewed the event through the historical lens of St. Francis’s 1219
meeting with Sultan al-Malik al-Kamil during the Crusades—a rare moment of medieval respect. Islamic representatives saw the gathering as a platform to declare that “genuine religious belief is a source of harmony” and that the use of religion for violence is a “terrible abuse.”
The Spirit of Assisi is built on several core convictions articulated by successive Popes:
Universal Brotherhood: The belief that all humans share a common origin and destiny, making peace a universal duty.
The Power of Prayer: A conviction that peace is not merely the result of political negotiations but a gift from God that must be sought through humble prayer.
The Rejection of Violence: A solemn declaration that “whoever uses religion to foment violence contradicts religion’s deepest and truest inspiration.”
Identity and Alterity: Encouraging believers to be “pilgrims” who are firm in their own faith while remaining open to the “other” as a brother or sister.
Assisi is often called a “Prophecy of Peace.” In an era where religion is frequently weaponized to fuel conflict, the Spirit of Assisi offers an alternative narrative. It posits that the more deeply one enters into their own faith, the more they find a common human longing for the Transcendent and for the peace that “surpasses all understanding.”
Today, the “Spirit of Assisi” has evolved from a single historical event into a practical framework for addressing modern global crises. In our current context of deep political polarization and digital echo chambers, it offers several vital lessons for the 21st century:
A Counter-Narrative to the “Clash of Civilizations”: In a world where religion is often blamed for conflict, the Spirit of Assisi provides a “prophecy of peace.” It demonstrates that religious identity can be a bridge rather than a barrier, offering a direct rebuttal to the idea that different cultures are destined for inevitable conflict.
The “Theology of the Neighbor”: It shifts the focus from abstract theological debate (which often divides) to shared ethical action (which unites). Today, this means interfaith cooperation on global issues like climate change, migration, and poverty. It suggests that “saving our common home” is a spiritual duty shared by all traditions.
Human Fraternity over Uniformity: It teaches us how to coexist without erasing our differences. By emphasizing the “gift of peace,” it encourages a “culture of encounter” where we don’t just tolerate the “other” but recognize their inherent dignity. This is particularly relevant in multicultural societies struggling with social cohesion.
The Role of Silence and Prayer in Diplomacy: In an era of “loud” social media and aggressive rhetoric, Assisi’s emphasis on silence, pilgrimage, and prayer reminds us that peace requires internal work. It suggests that political solutions are more sustainable when backed by a shared moral and spiritual commitment.
In short, for us today, the Spirit of Assisi means active, collaborative hope. It is the belief that when people of faith (and no faith) stand together, they become a more powerful force for good than any political or military power.
The Spirit of Assisi remains a “prophetic gesture.” It suggests that in a fragmented world, the path to peace requires not just treaties, but a spiritual “workshop” where leaders of different faiths can offer a counter-narrative to violence through silence, pilgrimage, and mutual respect.
A little over a week after the date of this publication, our journey through the Jubilee Year of Hope will come to an end. On December 24, 2024, we were invited to become “Pilgrims of Hope,” sharing the message of hope in Christ within our families and our communities, and growing in that hope in our own lives.
The practice of a jubilee year has ancient roots. In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first Christian Jubilee, a year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on the spiritual life. Since then, the Church has designated each new Jubilee as a special year of grace and forgiveness, offering the faithful an opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence. Originally occurring every 50 years, this practice is now observed every 25 years, and serves as a reminder of God’s love, mercy, and continual call to conversion.
Pilgrimages are a powerful way to inspire faith whether by walking in the footsteps of Jesus in the Holy Land, visiting sites significant in the lives of saints, or by visiting historic churches. For many, travel to the Vatican might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and maybe that opportunity wasn’t economically or logistically feasible this year. A trip to the Holy Land similarly may have been difficult, but for reasons that are disheartening, as conflict has embroiled the region. At a Mass that kicked off our local celebration of the Jubilee, Bishop Gregory Parkes mapped out our personal pilgrimage through this Year of Hope, regardless of any opportunities to travel abroad: “As pilgrims of hope, we are called to live out the call to seek Christ, the source of our hope and the source of the meaning for which we long, in all that we do and in every moment of our lives.”
Bishop Parkes called on Sacred Heart to serve as one of six official Places of Pilgrimage within the Diocese of St. Petersburg throughout the Jubilee Year. The full list included the Cathedral of St. Jude, as well as one church from each the five counties in the diocese. Our parish saw an uptick in visitors through this designation. Docents from the Historical Society have provided dozens of additional tours this year, to visiting groups from across the state and southeast and pilgrims from as far off as Sweden or South America. Pilgrimage passports were handed out to those making the trek across the diocese, with prayers and instructions for the plenary indulgence afforded to those making the local journey. The diocese also promoted a way for children to get involved, creating a cartoon image of Bishop Parkes for families to take photos with while visiting the local sites.
If this Jubilee itself hasn’t been enough of a historical moment, many that had the chance to travel to the Vatican were greeted by another. With the election of Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost to the papacy, becoming Pope Leo XIV in early May, their time in Rome coincided with an early chance to hear from the first American pope in person during the Angelus or General Audiences.
“It is hard to describe the feeling that you have when you are there,” said Fran Provenzano, a long-time parishioner who is currently chair of Sacred Heart’s Outreach Committee. She and her husband Jerry were able to visit the Vatican for the Jubilee as part of a larger trip across Italy. “It was pouring with rain the day that we were there, and yet you felt a togetherness, and a humbleness, that made it feel as if it were a perfect day.
“People were sharing umbrellas and taking care of each other, and Pope Leo exuded this aura of humility and openness during his address. It was truly something special.”
“As I walked through the Holy Doors, I distinctly remember praying to God for peace in our world,” said Tony Miranda, Sacred Heart’s business operations manager. Miranda was able to visit the Vatican over the summer before beginning his new role on the parish staff. Holy Doors are special entrances in major Catholic basilicas, only opened during Holy Years (Jubilees) by the Pope, symbolizing a passage from sin to grace and a deeper connection with Christ, allowing pilgrims to receive indulgences.
Originally, there was only one door, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. Later, to allow as many pilgrims as possible to take part in the Jubilee experience, the other Roman Basilicas also opened their own Holy Doors, including St. Peter’s, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Pope Francis opened a new door for Jubilee 2025, in Rebibbia Prison, Rome, signifying hope and mercy for all, including prisoners. On Gaudete Sunday, Pope Leo XIV presided over the final major celebration of the Holy Year, calling for renewed commitment to justice, rehabilitation, and hope during a Mass dedicated to prisoners in St. Peter’s Basilica, attended by around 6,000 pilgrims from some 90 countries. An estimated 32-35 million Catholics will have made the trip to Rome by the Jubilee’s end on January 6, 2026, when the Holy Doors will shut, and end what has certainly been a year filled with hope.
Music and Readings for theNativity of the Lord| December 24 & 25, 2025:
Opening Song: O Come, All Ye Faithful (ver. 1, 3, & 4) G 472
Glory to God: Mass of New Wine (Jakob)
Psalm 96 (Christmas Psalm {Farrell}): Today, today a savior has been born,a savior has been born to us.He is Christ the Lord, Christ the Lord,Jesus Christ the Lord.
