It is time for the tree to come down because this feast day, the Baptism of our Lord, marks the end of the Christmas season, and the beginning of Christ\u2019s public ministry.<\/p>\n <\/a>Christ is baptized in the River Jordan, not because He needs to free Himself of original sin. He is, after all, without sin. No, He does so that He can enter into our humanity and become one with us. This means that from the start, Christ is someone who longs for relationship with us. He wants to meet us where we are and then help us deepen\u00a0 in holiness.<\/p>\n \u201cSpiritual progress tends toward ever more intimate union with Christ,\u201d our Catechism teaches. \u201d This union is called mystical because it participates in the mystery of Christ through the sacraments<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As we celebrate our Lord\u2019s baptism, let us call to mind our own. And as we enter Ordinary Time, let\u2019s remember Christ stands beside us. The Prophet\u00a0 Isaiah foretold a Messiah whose name would be \u201cEmmanuel,\u201d\u00a0 meaning \u201cGod is with us.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/__dQCWErAY9c\/TSj1kCNAuBI\/AAAAAAAAAjo\/cgc_vqmWjOI\/s200\/christmas_tree_curb_small.jpg\")
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This afternoon my family will remove the lights from our Christmas tree, which now stands on our front porch, and haul the tree to the curb. Then our borough will collect it and grind it to mulch.<\/p>\n
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