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Wednesday, March 24, 2004

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Isaiah 49:8-15
Psalm 145
John 5:17-30

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no more failures renewing our baptisms

"He not only was breaking the sabbath but, worse still, was speaking of God as His own Father, thereby making Himself God's equal." —John 5:18

It seems that for the last few years the renewal of the baptismal promises has not been successful for the Catholic Church throughout the world. The evidence for this is the continued proliferation of the culture of death, including abortion, contraception, unforgiveness, vengeance, denominations, racism, starvation, and other injustices. Our Baptisms are such great works of God that if millions of Christians renewed their Baptisms, the world could not help but be changed according to God's will.

The key to renewing our Baptisms is believing that Jesus is God. Jesus is the only Way to the Father (Jn 14:6) and the One Who baptizes us in the Spirit (Mk 1:8). When we believe in the Trinity with all our hearts, we are compelled to reject Satan, all his works, and all his empty promises. We believe Jesus is God and His revelation of the Trinity because of Jesus' resurrection and because of the Church's authoritative revelation of Jesus' divinity in her teachings, especially in the Scriptures. His divinity is corroborated by the fact that He does the works of God (Jn 5:36).

"Just as the Father raises the dead and grants life, so the Son grants life to those to whom He wishes" (Jn 5:21). I have seen Jesus give new life to myself and countless others through Baptism. I have evidence that Jesus raises the dead who have lived for Him, for example, my own father. I have seen Jesus do the works of God. I have good reason to believe that the risen Jesus, proclaimed by His infallible Church, is God. I will profess this on the first day of Easter with all my heart.

Prayer:  Father, may I renew my Baptism by Your standards.

Promise:  "Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you." —Is 49:15

Praise:  Every time Peter uses holy water, which is frequently, he remembers his Baptism.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Richard Walling, July 18, 2003


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 24, 2003