Saturday, January 08, 2011
FEAST, BAPTISM OF THE LORD - A
FEAST, BAPTISM OF THE LORD - A
Readings: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 / Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 / Acts 10:34-38 /
Mt 3:13-17
ISAIAH 42:1-4, 6-7
Thus says the Lord, "Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one
in whom I delight. I have put my spirit upon him, and he will bring
justice to the nations. He does not shout or raise his voice,
proclamations are not heard in the streets. A broken reed he will not
crush, nor will he snuff out the light of the wavering wick. He will
make justice appear in truth. He will not waver or be broken until he
has established justice on earth; the islands are waiting for his law.
I, Yahweh, have called you for the sake of justice; I will hold your
hand to make you firm; I will make you as a covenant to the people,
and as a light to the nations, to open eyes that do not see, to free
captives from prison, to bring out to light those who sit in darkness.
ACTS 10:34-38
Peter then spoke to the men, "Truly, I realize that God does not show
partiality, but in all nations he listens to everyone who fears God
and does good. And this is the message he has sent to the children of
Israel, the good news of peace he has proclaimed through Jesus Christ,
who is the Lord of all. No doubt you have heard of the event that
occurred throughout the whole country of the Jews, beginning from
Galilee, after the baptism John preached. You know how God anointed
Jesus the Nazarean with Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing
good and healing all who were under the devil's power, because God was
with him."
MATTHEW 3:13-17
At that time Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent him, and said, "How
is it you come to me: I should be baptized by you!" But Jesus answered
him, "Let it be like that for now that we may fulfill the right
order." John agreed. As soon as he was baptized, Jesus came up from
the water. At once, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God
come down like a dove and rest upon him. At the same time a voice from
heaven was heard, "This is my Son, the Beloved; he is my Chosen One."
REFLECTION
Today's feast, which brings to a close the liturgical season of
Christmas, celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John
the Baptist.
Have you ever wondered why the absolutely sinless Jesus was baptized?
It can be said that God wanted to show that the man Jesus had to
experience in humility all that we have to experience; or that Jesus'
baptism was an example for us for our own baptism. However, another
reflection may be helpful on this feast of the Baptism of Jesus.
As we read the account in today's Gospel, what did Jesus experience as
he was baptized? Part of his experience was that the Spirit descended
upon him, also that the Father's voice from heaven proclaimed "You are
my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" or in you I take delight.
Those words are an echo of what we have heard in our first reading
from the Prophet Isaiah. They are from the first of the so called four
"servant songs" of Isaiah. The servant songs prophesy that the Servant
of Yahweh is to suffer for us. So, the voice of the Father from heaven
is proclaiming Jesus as the Son who is to be the suffering servant.
Here at his baptism the mission of Jesus is proclaimed by the Father.
And the descent of the Spirit on Jesus is his being anointed for this
mission. It is not a baptism for forgiveness of Jesus' sins for he has
none. It is rather a baptism which is a commissioning of Jesus for his
mission and an anointing by the Spirit to enable him to fulfill that
mission. We can say that for Jesus this baptism is a missioning
ceremony, with his mission declared by the Father who sends him.
Later on, after his baptism, as we learn from the Gospel of Luke,
Jesus will enter the synagogue on a Sabbath and find in the scroll of
Isaiah these words: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has
anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to
let the oppressed go free." After quoting that passage from Isaiah
Jesus said: "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
When did the Spirit come upon him and anoint him for this liberating
mission? At the River Jordan when he was baptized – the experience
that today's feast celebrates. Is there anything here which can be
helpful to us? There is if we look at our own baptism. Unlike the
baptism of Jesus, our baptism is surely for the remission of sin in
us. However, like the baptism of Jesus, ours is also a commissioning
for us to be active members of the Church. This is our mission by
virtue of our baptism. The babies who will be baptized in our churches
this morning will not be able to understand that, of course, but their
parents and godparents will speak for them, promising that, like
Jesus, these children will be committed to become active members of
the community of the Church. And that involves a commitment to
continue in their lives their part of the mission for which Jesus was
baptized. Yes, our baptism, like the baptism of Jesus, can be said to
be a baptism for mission – for our share in Christ's mission. Later in
his life, Jesus, conscious of his mission, would proclaim "I have a
baptism to receive. What anguish I feel until it is accomplished."
Let us join Jesus as we recommit ourselves to our active membership in
our Church as sisters and brothers of Jesus, and children of God.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Vicky Fabella
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of
- Josheil Dapo
- Med Villanueva
- Marge, John C, Rita M, KD, Kristi MS, Maria PA, Pam, Marge G
…In Thanksgiving: Renan & Jo Lacida
… Wedding Anniversary: Dick and Connie Condeno
… Birthday:
- Yoly Millar
- Roque Agripa
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Marcela Sim
- Msgr Ralph Salazar
Eternal rest grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them.
May they and all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Babes Batac
- Wedding Anniversary: Atty Antero Jr & Mila Sison
- Wedding Anniversary: Tony & Lina Buenafe
- Wedding Anniversary: Harris & Ever Ngo
- Wedding Anniversary: Michael & Ceylilona Tong
- Wedding Anniversary: Tony & Lina Buenafe
- Wedding Anniversary: Peter & Mary Anne de Guzman
- Wedding Anniversary: Rowie & Angela Torres
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
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SATURDAY AFTER EPIPHANY – YEAR I
SATURDAY AFTER EPIPHANY – YEAR I
Readings: 1 Jn 5:14-21/ Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9 / Jn 3:22-30
1 JOHN 5:14-21
Through him we are fully confident that whatever we ask, according to
his will, he will grant us. If we know that he hears us whenever we
ask, we know that we already have what we asked of him. If you see
your brother committing sin, a sin which does not lead to death, pray
for him, and God will give life to your brother. I speak, of course,
of the sin which does not lead to death. There is also a sin that
leads to death; I do not speak of praying about this. Every kind of
wrongdoing is sin, but not all sin leads to death. We know that those
born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them
and the evil one does not touch them. We know that we belong to God,
while the whole world lies in evil. We know that the Son of God has
come and has given us power to know the truth. We are in him who is
true, his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. My
dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
JOHN 3:22-30
Jesus went into the territory of Judea with his disciples. He stayed
there with them and baptized. John was also baptizing in Aenon near
Salim where water was plentiful; people came to him and were baptized.
This happened before John was put in prison. Now John's disciples had
been questioned by a Jew about spiritual cleansing, so they came to
him and said, "Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, and
about whom you spoke favorably, is now baptizing and all are going to
him. John answered, "No one can take on anything except what has been
given him from heaven. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said: `I
am not the Christ but I have been sent before him.' Only the
bridegroom has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom stands by
and listens, and rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice. My joy is
now full. It is necessary that he increase but that I decrease."
REFLECTION
John the Baptist knew his personal vocation. He said, "A man can lay
claim only to what is given him from heaven." He knew his calling was
to bear witness to Jesus and to bring others to him. In and through
his life, he prepared many to recognize Jesus and to welcome him into
their lives.
In true humility, John the Baptist also knew that all glory is for
Jesus and not for himself. He was discerning enough not to be carried
away by his disciples' thinking, that they should not accept Jesus as
the Christ even though they knew he `bore witness' to him. John the
Baptist again `bore witness' to Jesus Christ to his disciples. He knew
that to focus on ourselves and our glory is to worship "false gods."
John the Baptist's purpose in life was fulfilled in the coming of
Jesus Christ. Hearing from his disciples that Jesus was being known
and accepted as Christ the "Bridegroom," made his joy complete. He
joyfully understood that Jesus had to "grow greater." John the Baptist
knew and accomplished his personal mission. How many of us know our
personal vocation or mission?
Each of us is created and chosen by God for a purpose — to know Him,
to love Him and to serve Him. Each of us has a unique personal
vocation to bear witness to Jesus Christ through our lives and to lead
others to him. In and through our lives, Jesus Christ must be
glorified; our joy is complete only when others welcome Jesus Christ
into their lives.
Do our lives bear witness to Jesus Christ? How many of us have
discerned our personal vocation?
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Vicky Fabella
- Susan
… for the personal intentions of Josheil Dapo
… In Thanksgiving: Renan & Jo Lacida
… for the eternal repose of the soul of Marcela Sim. Eternal rest
grant unto them and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they and
all the dearly departed rest in peace.
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Wedding Anniversary: Boy & Cora Morando
- In Memoriam (+): Eugenia Guieb Castillo
- In Memoriam (+): Chan Chin Sing
- In Memoriam (+): Maxima Lucas Reyes
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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© 2011 Daily-Homily
