Sometimes I ponder what sin I regularly commit? We commit sins “in my thought, in my word and in what I have done” as we often confess and ask for God’s forgiveness before Mass. But I think my sin is found often in later part of that prayer, “and what I have failed to do”.

SVD seminarians at Melbourne’s Dorish Maru College swapped their academic books for some ‘on the ground’ experience over the summer break, with some spending time in parishes, while others undertook work or clinical pastoral experience, lived with a local family, or headed home on leave.

The students, who come from a range of different countries, said the hands-on experiences of pastoral and working life in Australia had a big impact on their formation to become missionary priests.

Before we reflect on the Gospel, I want to share something very personal with you all.

In the gospel for this Sunday, which, like last week, is another story about Jesus’ baptism, somehow John doesn’t seem to recognise Jesus.

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord invites us to look at our own baptism in the Lord. Jesus, through his baptism in the river Jordan, begins his mission.

I feel squeamish when I see those paintings of Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, which depict this trio as the ideal family!  In reality, no one in the Middle East, either now or 2000 years ago, would consider a mother+father+child as a family unit.

There was a story of a man who was deeply devoted to St Joseph and when he died he was at the gates of heaven and being interviewed by St Peter. St Peter, after assessing the record of this man declined him entry to heaven straightaway, but the man argued that he was a St Joseph devotee. Then, at the gate appeared St Joseph.

Today’s first reading gives us an image of the Kingdom of Heaven which we require to aim at every moment of our life. The second reading today comes from the Letter of James and recommends us all to be patient for the coming of the Kingdom of God.