Gospel Reflection:

Our Gospel Reflection for Sunday comes from Gene Hemrick's website for The National Institute for the Renewal of the Priesthood.
To learn more about this organization go to www.jknirp.com

Baptism of the Lord
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The first verses of today's gospel make it clear that the baptism of John is only a preparation for the coming of Jesus. His baptism is in water only, whereas the baptism that Jesus offers is also "with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16). This is a reference no doubt to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost which is fully described in Luke's other book, the Acts of the Apostles (see chapter 2).

Luke's description of the baptism of Jesus is very similar to that of Matthew and Mark. First of all, the heavens are opened, signaling the end of that centuries-long apparent absence of God. Now that Jesus is on the scene, it is time to initiate that final act in the drama of God's coming to save his people. The appearance of the dove represents symbolically the advent of a new creation, just as the dove signaled for Noah the end of the flood and a new era of God's grace (Gen 8:8-11).

The climax of this scene comes with the voice from heaven, which tells us in effect that the new creation will involve an influx of divine love that will be incarnate in the person of Jesus. Henceforth, he will be the embodiment among us of God's transforming and empowering love with a potential to transform the universe.

Life Implications

This description of the consequences of the baptism of Jesus must not be seen simply as something that happened to Jesus alone. For in our own baptism we have become part of the new creation and God speaks to us also with those same loving and empowering words that he spoke to Jesus (adapted to our situation): "You are my beloved child; I love you very much." With these divine words we are truly joined to the person and the mission of Jesus.

The fact that we cannot hear these words in a conscious way when we are baptized as infants makes it all the more important that we learn how to listen as we grow older and become more aware of the presence of God. In fact, there is nothing that we can do during our lives that is more important than listening as God tells us, in our hearts and souls, that we are his beloved and cherished children. We are bombarded constantly by the words of our busy world and some of them may be important, but none of these human words can possibly be as important in our lives as the words of God spoken to us in our baptism.

There can be no doubt that Jesus heard these words of his heavenly Father all during his ministry. When he went aside to pray, he would be comforted and reassured and strengthened by these loving words. We too would do well to set aside some time each day to listen as God whispers to us that we are so loved that we do not ever need to be afraid. As we do that, we enter into the full meaning and power of our baptism and we find the secret of living in gratitude and hope, as we prepare for resurrection glory.

Demetrius R. Dumm, O.S.B.

The Answer to the WTU Question of the Week:

Father Joseph F. Wimmer, O.S.A, S.T.D., professor of Sacred Scripture.

Fr. Wimmer met Mother Teresa in the early 1970's and was instrumental in the Missionaries of Charity's 1981 arrival in Washington, D.C. Click here to read Father Wimmer's personal reflection.

Registrar Reminders

Drop/Add Policies

Students are reminded of the following policies: 1) Any change you make to your official course registration must be documented using the Registration form provided on our website and provided to the Registrar. This is especially important if you are dropping or withdrawing from a class or changing status (i.e. credit/audit). Notifying the instructor does NOT constitute official notification. 2) Please also note the official policy restrictions about registration changes in the final weeks of the semester. 3) Finally, if circumstances occur that require your withdrawal from the Union, this also requires formal notification to the Registrar. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Tuition Refunds

Students are reminded of the changed policy on refunds. Refunds require submission of the registration form to the Registrar. 100% refunds are granted only if the registration form is received by Friday, January 15; 50% refunds are granted, if received by January 22. Forms can be faxed (202.541.5285). No refunds are granted after January 22. Contact the Registrar, if there are any questions.

Fall Semester Grades

Fall semester grades were mailed on Friday, January 8, 2010. Contact the Registrar if grades are not received by Friday, January 15.

Alumni-Student Mentoring Program:

There has been a tremendous response to this program which pairs current students with alumni who are working in the student’s desired ministry. Dr. Kathy Brown, Dean of Students was encouraged that both ordination tract and lay students requested mentors, as did many of the D.Min students. Student-alumni mentor pairings will be completed in the next two weeks. Thanks to all who are participating.

Strategic Planning Committee Forming:

Under the direction of President Fred Tillotson, O.Carm., the Union is undertaking its first significant strategic planning effort since the creation of its last 5-year long-range plan developed in 2002. A series of focus groups are beginning to be conducted with various constituencies of the Union community – including students and alumni – with the intent to solicit people’s perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the institution as well as desired future directions and initiatives.

Fr. Fred will be forming a Strategic Planning Committee with selected representatives from the Union community to help review and refine the feedback from the focus groups. If you are a student or alum living in the Washington, DC area who would be interested in and available to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee, please contact Lisa Marie Drover, CSSF, Executive Assistant to the President, at (202) 541-5228 or drover@wtu.edu to express your interest.

Jerry Hall Scholarship Fund Still Growing!

In March 2010, WTU lost one of its full-time faculty, Assistant Professor of Word and Worship Jerry Hall, S.J., who passed away following a brief illness. In a desire to celebrate Jerry’s life and to honor our community’s memory of him, the Rev. Jerome Hall, S.J. Memorial Scholarship fund was established.

To date, 34 alumni, faculty, and staff have made donations to the scholarship fund totaling $5,330. The Union continues to encourage donations to the fund, which must grow substantially before it can be endowed, and before it will be possible to draw income to award the first student scholarship. If you wish to make an online donation to this fund, please use the online donation form.