Saturday, January 12, 2013
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - YEAR C
JANUARY 13, 2013
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - YEAR C
Is 42:1-7 / Ps 104: 1b-2. 3-4. 24-25. 27-28. 29-30 / Acts 10:34-38 / Lk 3:15-16,21-22
ISAIAH 42:1-7
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. Thus says God, Yahweh, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread the earth and all that comes from it, who gives life and breath to those who walk on it: 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 them, "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;
LUKE 3:15-16,21-22
The people were wondering about John's identity, "Could he be the Messiah?" Then John answered them, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more: he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal. Now, with all the people who came to be baptized, Jesus too was baptized. Then, while he was praying, the heavens opened: the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily form of a dove and a voice from heaven was heard, "You are my Son, this day I have begotten you."
REFLECTION
Does it seem odd that the sinless Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist? In what sense is the baptism of Jesus a model to help us understand our own baptism? Why did Jesus submit himself to be baptized by his cousin John? And what is to be understood of the descent of the dove and the voice from heaven? These questions all make up a fascinating package of mystery for us to consider.
First of all, it is obvious that the baptism of Jesus was not a baptism to cleanse his soul from any sin. It is true that the baptism of John was a baptism of repentance. But in the case of Jesus it was not that Jesus had to repent of anything. Rather, Jesus submitting to John's baptism was Jesus' way of showing that he was in solidarity with all men and women who live in this world where sin and evil affect all of us. It was one way by which Jesus could show that indeed he is our Emmanuel, "God with us!"
And it was the heavenly Father who sent Jesus into our world to be our Emmanuel, to be "God with us." Indeed the voice from heaven was the voice of the Father declaring that this Jesus now being baptized is truly His beloved Son. The Father's words echo the prophecy made by Isaiah that God's Son is to be a servant Son, and truly a suffering servant Son. The baptism experience of Jesus is therefore a declaration by the Father of the mission for which Jesus is sent into our world. The baptism of Jesus is a commissioning of Jesus for his mission of service in a suffering world.
In today's gospel reading, John tells the people that the Messiah will inaugurate a baptism far superior to that of John, a baptism in the Holy Spirit! And that very Spirit comes upon Jesus now as an anointing for his mission.
The baptism of Jesus is different from ours since there is nothing sinful in Jesus, but like us Jesus is baptized to be one with us as we too are commissioned and anointed by the Spirit. Yes, at our baptism the Holy Spirit anoints us to share in the mission of Christ that was given to him by the Father. As the Second Vatican Council reminded us fifty years ago, by our baptism we are all missionaries, members of the Body of Christ, the beloved Son of the Father. By our baptism we become daughters and sons of the Lord, empowered by the Spirit to live as 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
- Cecilia Katigbak and Miguel Katigbak
- Nelly de Guzman
- Mabel Perlas
- Fr. Jun Embile, S.J.
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo; for protection and personal intentions of Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo,Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo,Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
… In Thanksgiving: Lina Magcamit
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Hilario Silvano, Sr.
- Dr. George Eufemio
- Luisa Tan
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: Jennifer Almojuela
- Wedding Anniversary: Henry & Juliet Ong
- In Memoriam (+): Ignacio Yang
… for families who are in need of healing
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
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© 2013 Daily-Homily
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - YEAR C
Is 42:1-7 / Ps 104: 1b-2. 3-4. 24-25. 27-28. 29-30 / Acts 10:34-38 / Lk 3:15-16,21-22
ISAIAH 42:1-7
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. Thus says God, Yahweh, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread the earth and all that comes from it, who gives life and breath to those who walk on it: 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 them, "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;
LUKE 3:15-16,21-22
The people were wondering about John's identity, "Could he be the Messiah?" Then John answered them, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more: he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal. Now, with all the people who came to be baptized, Jesus too was baptized. Then, while he was praying, the heavens opened: the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily form of a dove and a voice from heaven was heard, "You are my Son, this day I have begotten you."
REFLECTION
Does it seem odd that the sinless Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist? In what sense is the baptism of Jesus a model to help us understand our own baptism? Why did Jesus submit himself to be baptized by his cousin John? And what is to be understood of the descent of the dove and the voice from heaven? These questions all make up a fascinating package of mystery for us to consider.
First of all, it is obvious that the baptism of Jesus was not a baptism to cleanse his soul from any sin. It is true that the baptism of John was a baptism of repentance. But in the case of Jesus it was not that Jesus had to repent of anything. Rather, Jesus submitting to John's baptism was Jesus' way of showing that he was in solidarity with all men and women who live in this world where sin and evil affect all of us. It was one way by which Jesus could show that indeed he is our Emmanuel, "God with us!"
And it was the heavenly Father who sent Jesus into our world to be our Emmanuel, to be "God with us." Indeed the voice from heaven was the voice of the Father declaring that this Jesus now being baptized is truly His beloved Son. The Father's words echo the prophecy made by Isaiah that God's Son is to be a servant Son, and truly a suffering servant Son. The baptism experience of Jesus is therefore a declaration by the Father of the mission for which Jesus is sent into our world. The baptism of Jesus is a commissioning of Jesus for his mission of service in a suffering world.
In today's gospel reading, John tells the people that the Messiah will inaugurate a baptism far superior to that of John, a baptism in the Holy Spirit! And that very Spirit comes upon Jesus now as an anointing for his mission.
The baptism of Jesus is different from ours since there is nothing sinful in Jesus, but like us Jesus is baptized to be one with us as we too are commissioned and anointed by the Spirit. Yes, at our baptism the Holy Spirit anoints us to share in the mission of Christ that was given to him by the Father. As the Second Vatican Council reminded us fifty years ago, by our baptism we are all missionaries, members of the Body of Christ, the beloved Son of the Father. By our baptism we become daughters and sons of the Lord, empowered by the Spirit to live as 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
- Cecilia Katigbak and Miguel Katigbak
- Nelly de Guzman
- Mabel Perlas
- Fr. Jun Embile, S.J.
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo; for protection and personal intentions of Dr Ugo Anyaugo, Oge Anyaugo,Barr (Mrs) adaugo Barbara Okoronkwo,Engr. Ifeanyi Matt Anyaugo, Chuba Anyaugo and Ezinne Cordelia Anyaugo
… In Thanksgiving: Lina Magcamit
… for the eternal repose of the souls of
- Hilario Silvano, Sr.
- Dr. George Eufemio
- Luisa Tan
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: Jennifer Almojuela
- Wedding Anniversary: Henry & Juliet Ong
- In Memoriam (+): Ignacio Yang
… for families who are in need of healing
… 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!
**************************************************
These reflections are distributed free and are for personal use only. Feel free to send the Daily Prayer reflections to your friends, colleagues and relatives; however, if you do, please include the following:
+================================================+
| The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the
| priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish
| http://www.marythequeen.org
| Distributed free and for personal use only.
+================================================+
__._,_.___
-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GoogleGroup Address: http://groups.google.com/group/daily_homily
To subscribe from this free mailing service, send email to: dailyhomily@earthlink.net
To unsubscribe: daily_homily-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
© 2013 Daily-Homily
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 3:16 AM 
