Throughout most of the world, where Epiphany is celebrated today, this is the greatest day of the Christmas season. Yet no matter what part of the world you're in, today the Lord desires to give you the only true Christmas Spirit, the Holy Spirit. He will give you the gift of gifts by baptizing and immersing you in the Spirit (Mk 1:8). The Spirit will confirm you as a child of God. He will cry out in you, "Abba," (Father) (Gal 4:6). You will be sure of your inheritance and of God's promises (Rm 8:15-17). By faith, you will move boldly into 2006 in the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:1) and claim your position as "conqueror of the world" (1 Jn 5:5).

There are only four days left in the Christmas season. Don't let this Christmas slip by without believing and receiving the Holy Spirit. You don't have to be holy to receive the Spirit, but you have to receive the Spirit to be holy. Moreover, you must have a strong desire. "If anyone thirsts" for the Spirit (Jn 7:37), he receives the fountain of living water "leaping up to provide eternal life" (Jn 4:14).

"The testimony is this: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever possesses the Son possesses life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not possess life" (1 Jn 5:11-12). Let the Son give you the ultimate Christmas present: baptize you in the Spirit and renew your Confirmation.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 19, 2005

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