DAILY- HOMILY

10 January 2016

BAPTISM OF THE LORD 

Feast.      White.      Is 40: 1 – 5, 9 - 11.       Ti 2: 11 – 14;   3: 4 – 7.    

Lk 3: 15 – 16, 21 - 22.

From the 2nd Reading:     Ti 3: 4 - 7

But God our Savior revealed his eminent goodness and love for humankind and saved us, not because of good deeds we may have done but for the sake of his own mercy.  He gave us rebirth in baptism and renewed us by the Holy Spirit poured over us through Christ Jesus our Savior.  By the grace of God we were made holy and now we hope for everlasting life, our inheritance.

Gospel  Reading:      Lk 3: 15 – 16, 21 - 22

The people were wondering about John's identity, "Could he be the Messiah?  Then John answered, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more: he will baptize you with the 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

Who are you?  What is your worth?

As adolescents we depended on looks, strength, cleverness, popularity and number of friends we had.  As adults our identity and worth often depend on achievement, money, prestige, power or the families we are able to build.

The problem is that, ultimately, all these "worldly treasures and friends" do not stay: our looks, strength, popularity, money, our friends and families ultimately change, leave, die or even betray us.  When we depend on these for our identity and worth, we may end up broken-hearted.

Looking at Jesus, we ask: "On what did Jesus base his identity and worth?"  He was admired, loved and people even wanted to make him king.  He was also called a blasphemer, glutton, drunkard, even Satan.  He was hated enough to make his enemies want to kill him. How did Jesus stay in control, confident, preaching community, love and joy?

This was because Jesus did not base his identity and worth on the esteem of other people: "He did not entrust himself to them for he know all men." (Jn 2:24)  Rather he based his value and worth on the love of God his Father.  In today's Gospel reading we heard the Father affirming him at his baptism: "You are my Son, this day I have begotten you."  (Lk 3:22)  Later in his public ministry the Father gave him the same affirmation at his transfiguration on Mt. Tabor: "This is my Son, my chosen One, listen to him."  (Lk 9: 35)

Free of the craving or addiction to human love, esteem and affection, Jesus focused on finding and fulfilling the Father's will:  ". . . then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of myself, but I say just what the Father taught me. He who sent me is with me and has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him."  (Jn 8: 28 – 29)

This is the meaning of our own baptism.  We too are the Father's sons and daughters. The Spirit has also been poured into our hearts.  This is what we are.  God is the unchanging foundation of our true identity and worth.  The world, people and we ourselves may change.  But God's love for us will never change.  He loves us, warts, scars and all.

Today may we hear the Father speaking to our hearts, telling us who we really are, "You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     Manuela T. Zuñiga

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the repose of the soul of Iris Santos Lasin

For the speedy recovery and safe medical procedure for Florencio "Totoy" Reyes Jr,

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

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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