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astounded by the promise of eternal life. That is a lot to have wrapped up into
one day˅s readings!
R
EFLECTION
As I pondered the first readings, I was reminded of one of my own pilgrimages in
the footsteps of St. Paul. In Turkey and Greece, you can visit the ruins of very
early Christian churches. In these churches, to the left of the nave, is a room
where you find the font for Baptism. (See photo of The Basilica of St. John near
Ephasus.) In the early centuries, you actually did not enter the church until you
had been Baptized. Like the Baptismal font at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the
Angels, the fonts I saw on my pilgrimage had stairs leading into a deep bath.
But, what I found unique is that the design of the font allowed the person enter-
ing into Baptism to lie down in the water, perpendicular to the floor of the font.
One can imagine floating in the waters of unconditional welcome and love. Or,
maybe like in today˅s readings, the design was meant that you entered the waters
of baptism with another at your side. Either way, I am drawn into the experience
and it causes me to ponder my own journey of faith and the significance of my
own baptism, ongoing conversions ˈon the roadˉ and my own hope that one day
I will be embraced in God˅s love for all eternity. What better gifts can we be
given!
P
RAYER
Lord, like Philip, help us to be disciples who invite others to know Jesus through
the Scriptures. Help us to feel comfortable to speak out as modern day evangel-
ists, and help us to encourage others to experience Christian hope. May we also
have ears to hear when others share their understanding of the Scripturesˁthat
we may be open to our ongoing conversion. Most of all, Lord, help us to experi-
ence Jesus as the
living bread that came down from heaven
ˁthat we too may
one day revel in the joy of eternal life.
_______
A
NGELA
M. H
OWELL
Parishioner