Newness of life

"We were buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father, we too
might live in newness of life."
Romans 6:4

The Baptism of the Lord

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him. The heavens, like Paradise with its flaming sword, closed by Adam for himself and his descendants, are rent open. The Spirit comes to him as to an equal, bearing witness to his Godhead. A voice bears witness to him from heaven, his place of origin. The Spirit descends in bodily form like the dove that so long ago announced the ending of the flood and so gives honor to the body that is one with God. Today let us do honor to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven.

--St. Gregory of Nazianzus

X
"Grace is a participation in the life of God.
By baptism, the Christian participates in the grace of Christ."

Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1997