Baptism – Life on the Chrism Trail

Homily for the Easter Vigil

April 4, 2026
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

Genesis 1:1-2:2
Exodus 14:15-15:1
Isaiah 55:1-11
Romans 6:3-11
Matthew 18:1-10

The element of water is present in each of the readings from the Old Testament that we have proclaimed during this Vigil. In Genesis, we hear of how God created the waters and separated them, forming the sky and the sea, and declaring them to be good. We hear how the waters of the sea were created to sustain the life of other creatures, including human beings. There is a mixed relationship between water and human beings that exists since the fall of our first parents in the Garden of Eden.

Homily for Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper

April 2, 2026
St. Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

“You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?” These words are part of the Church’s Rite of Baptism for One Child. They are addressed by the priest, or in his absence, the deacon, to the parents of the child who is to be baptized. In responding to this question, parents accept their responsibility to set an example for and to teach their children how to keep the Commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbor.

Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

January 12, 2025
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Fort Worth, Texas

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30
Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

As Catholics we believe that the Sacrament of Baptism washes away all sin including the stain of original sin inherited from our first parents in the Garden of Eden. If Jesus was God, why was He baptized? This has always been a perplexing question frequently asked in catechism class. If John’s baptism was one of repentance, this seems to imply falsely that Jesus was a sinner. In fact, John the Baptist tries to prevent Jesus’ being baptized, but Jesus insists. Instead, the Baptism of Jesus is an essential part of His work of the Redemption of each human person. Jesus enters into solidarity with all men and women; He becomes one with each of us to share all the aspects of our lives. He even takes upon Himself the condition of our sinfulness, even though He Himself never sinned.