The Fall of 2009 I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Israel on a Catholic Pilgrimage with Father Machado and our Jewish guide, Ami. It is true what people say; the Bible does come alive! One on the many experiences I recall was a memorable boat excursion across the Sea of Galilee to St Peter’s Warf in a rainstorm. There had been three years of drought, and this was the first significant rainfall since then. We donned our raingear and umbrellas and headed for the waiting boat. Clear plastic drop-down screens decreased our visibility of the sea but we were protected from the elements. As the boat drifted from shore and a few safety instructions were given, Father Machado began to read from the Gospels: And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” (Mark 4:35-41) And with this, the conclusion of Father Machado’s words, the rains ended; the sea calmed! Another memory involved the Jordan River later that day. The rain had stopped but the clouds hung low in the sky as if they had been shut up before they had a chance to unload their much-needed rain upon the parched grounds. We arrived at the Jordon River and gathered along the shoreline. Father Machado, with Bible in hand, waded into the River. Once again, he opened the Bible and began to read: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:9-11) At these words the clouds literally parted; the sun shone down upon Father Machado. We were all in awe of truly how God was bringing His Words alive! Slowly, each one of us were given the invitation to enter the Jordan River and participate in a re-dedication of our baptismal commitment. I share these two stories because of the significance of water as an element in nature and as a symbol of our faith. We begin our physical lives in water; the waters of the womb. And we begin our spiritual lives through the waters of Baptism. As we dip our fingers into the holy-water font and feel the coolness of the water upon our forehead may we be reminded that Jesus, too, will calm the seas within our own lives. May we be reminded the words spoken to Jesus at His Baptism are the words Our Father speaks to each of us; “you are my beloved children; with you I am well pleased.” This week as we slide our fingers into the holy-water font may we pause and reflect upon the words Jesus quietly speaks to our hearts as we bless ourselves “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus said, "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9)