The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord concludes the celebration of the Christmas season. After today, our churches will take down their festive Christmas decorations including the prominence of the manger scene. The baptism of Jesus marks the shift in the focus of the liturgical year from the infant Jesus to the adult Jesus. The heavenly voice proclaims Jesus to be "my beloved Son." With his baptism in the Jordan by John, Jesus begins his adult ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. He proclaims the Kingdom of God in word and deed.

The goal of every disciple of Jesus is to disciple another person. By baptism we are all Evangelizers. How do you disciple a man or woman? Jesus' typical call to the seekers of his day was, "Follow me!"

Lepers and Wise Men? Who would have thought the light of the Epiphany would shine on both, so strategically close together in the liturgy? We’re tempted to assume there is some mistake in the choice of this Gospel for the Friday after Epiphany…