Posted on 01/12/2008 10:22:15 PM PST by Salvation
|
The Baptism of the Lord
|
|
Reading 1
Is 42:1-4, 6-7
Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Reading II
Acts 10:34-38
Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”
Gospel
Mt 3:13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Alleluia Ping List.
Sorry, everyone, I had to use an old ping list.
The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Baptism of the Lord: Our Power
Heaven, a Dove, a Voice [Baptism of the Lord]
Prayer and Meditation - Baptism of our Lord
Another Christian Holiday Celebrated
Were the Magi who visited Jesus -- Persian?
Thousands watch teens dive for the cross in Tarpon Springs
100th Epiphany Day Event Will Be Global Celebration
Tarpon Springs Celebrates Epiphany
Patriarch Adds To Epiphany Pomp
The Epiphany of the Roman Primacy
EPIPHANY - THREE KINGS - January 6 (Holy Day of Obligation)
Helena's (Mother of Constantine) Epiphany Meditation
For the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord 'Three Kings' Seek, Find, and Worship the Lord
The 12 Days of Christmas and Christmastide: A Rich Catholic Tradition
The 12 Days of Christmas -- Activities, Customs, Prayers, Blessings, Hymns -- For the Family
Iraqis Crowd Churches for Christmas Mass
Pope Wishes the World a Merry Christmas
On this night, a comforting message(Merry Christmas!)
Advent through Christmas -- 2007
Bethlehem beyond the Christmas calm
Various Orthodox Texts for the Feast of the Nativity
The Five Best Christmas Stories
What Are We Celebrating When We Celebrate Christmas?
Secular Christmas Celebration Pointless, Pope Says
The Wonder of Christmas - 1959
The Real Meaning of Christmas Lights
Top ten Carols and things you didn't know about them
The Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Christmas gifts are a reminder of Jesus, the greatest gift given to mankind, Pope tells youth
Pope celebrates Christmas mass
Christmas: The Turning Point of History
Bringing Christmas to Life Again
Christmas: the beginning of our redemption
Catholic Caucus: The 16 Days of Christmas (Christmas to the Baptism of the Lord)
Origin of the Twelve Days of Christmas [An Underground Catechism]
Origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" [Underground Catechism]
From: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Prologue: Promise of Deliverance
[1] Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. [2] Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she
has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. [3] A voice cries: “In the
wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for
our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. [5] And the
glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth
of the Lord has spoken.” [6] A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. [7] The grass
withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the
people is grass. [8] The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God
will stand for ever. [9] Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good ti-
dings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it
up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” [10] Behold, the Lord
God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him. [11] He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will
gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead
those that are with young.
Commentary:
40:1-55:13. These chapters make up the second part of the book of Isaiah, also
known as “Second Isaiah” or “Deutero-Isaiah”. Almost everything here refers to a
period of history one or two centuries later than that of “First Isaiah”. The oppres-
sor is no longer Assyria but Babylon, which conquered Jerusalem in 587-586 BC,
and then began a series of deportations that sent the upper classes of Jerusalem
and Judah into exile. Many years later (539 BC), Cyrus, king of the Persians,
conquered the Babylonians and issued a decree allowing those deportees who so
wished to return home. These events are echoed in Second Isaiah’s oracles, songs,
lamentations and denunciations, and the prophetic visions of the final, enduring
deliverance and restoration of the chosen people and the city of Zion.
The various literary units in this part of the book are grouped into two Is 52:7-11
sections more or less by subject. The first (40:1-48:22) implies that the Jews are
still held against their will in Babylon. Their deliverance is announced, thanks to
the power of the Lord, who rules the world and determines the course of human
affairs; he has chosen Cyrus, king of Persia, called here his “anointed”, his mes-
siah, to redeem Israel from exile (44:24-45:25).
This section, too, contains the announcement that God will choose a “servant”,
whom he will send empowered by the Spirit to establish law and justice (42:1-9,
the first “song of the Servant”).
The second section celebrates the glorious restoration of the people of God on
Zion; in this, too, the “Servant of the Lord” will play the key role; the section con-
tains the last three “songs of the Servant” (49: 1-6; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12).
40:1-48:22. The historical background to these chapters is the time immediately
after the return of the exiles from Babylon, which is depicted as a “new exodus”.
The exodus from Egypt was the prototype of all God’s interventions on his people’s
behalf: now we hear of another one, “new” because the power with which God, the
Creator of all things, acts now surpasses that to be seen in the exodus. The news
that deliverance is at hand greatly consoles the people: we are told this at the start,
and it is repeated in the oracles that follow. For this reason, this part of the book
of Isaiah is usually called the “Book of Consolation”, and it has been interpreted as
an anticipation of the consolation that Christ will bring: “The true consolation, balm
and release from all human ills is the Incarnation of our God and Saviour” (Theodo-
ret of Cyrus, “Commentaria In Isaiam”, 40, 3).
The section opens with a song of joy over the imminent release of the exiles
(40:1-11). After this a number of oracles are grouped together which describe the
reason why the people should hope in the Lord who is mighty and desires to save,
who is ready to do so (42:1-25), to manifest himself as the Redeemer of Israel
(43:1-44:23) and bring salvation to Jerusalem (44:24-48:19). The section ends
with a prophecy of the redemption of his people and a call to leave Babylon
(48:20-22).
40:1-11. The section begins on a formal note with an anonymous voice proclai-
ming the Lord’s consolation (vv 1-5) The same voice calls on the prophet him-
self to proclaim that the word of God and his message of salvation will endure
forever (vv. 6-11). The oracles are addressed to those people of Jerusalem who
have been deported to Babylon. When they were first spoken, many decades
had passed since these people and the previous generation were forced to leave
the holy city. Those years of suffering and exile have more than atoned for their
sins. The time comes for them, with the Lord’s help, to set out on the return jour-
ney. That journey is mentioned throughout this section. The voice speaking in
the name of the Lord boosts their morale: it won’t be a difficult journey; they will
find a way opened up for them which will bring them to the glory of the Lord. As
in the exodus from Egypt, on the “way” from Babylon to Jerusalem they will see
wonderful evidence of the power of God. The words spoken by the mysterious
voice, inviting them to set out, fills the returnees with hope. The four Gospels see
these words fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist, who is the voice crying in
the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord” (cf. v. 3). And, indeed, John, with
his call to personal conversion and his baptism of repentance, does prepare the
way for people to find Jesus (cf. Mt 3:3; Mk 1:3; Lk 3:4; Jn 1:23), whom the Gos-
pels confess to be “the Lord” (cf. v. 3). John the Baptist is his herald, the “precur-
sor”: “The voice commands that a way be opened for the Word of God, the path
smoothed and all obstacles removed: when our God comes, he will be able to
walk without hindrance. Prepare the way of the Lord: this means to preach the
gospel and to offer consolation to his people, with the desire that the salvation of
God embrace all mankind” (Eusebius of Caesarea, “Commentana In Isaiam”, 40,
366). Hence, in Christian tradition, “John the Baptist is ‘more than a prophet’ (Lk
7:26). In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John
completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah (cf. Mt 11:13-14). He proclaims
the imminence of the consolation of Israel; he is the ‘voice’ of the Consoler who
is coming (Jn 1:23; cf. Is 40:1-3)” (”Catechism of the Catholic Church”, 719).
In the second part of the oracle, the anonymous voice asks the prophet to speak
in the name of the Lord (vv. 6-8). Merely human plans can only go so far; but the
word of God stands forever In the things that the voice says there must be an allu-
sion to the might of Babylon, which withers like the “flower of the field” when the
“breath of the Lord blows upon it”, because it challenged the goodness of God.
The message to be given to the people speaks of trusting in the power of God,
who comes not to lay waste but to protect and recompense those in his care
(vv. 9-11). Here we find for the first time the simile of the “flock” being applied to
the people of God, one of a number of figures of speech used in Holy Scripture
to describe God’s tender care of his people (cf. Jer 23:3; Ezek 34:1ff; Ps 23:4)
and which Christian tradition uses to explain the mystery of the Church: “The
Church is a sheepfold whose one and indispensable door is Christ (Jn 10:1-10).
It is a flock of which God himself foretold he would be the shepherd (Is 40:11;
Ezek 34:11-31), and whose sheep, although ruled by human shepherds, are
nevertheless continuously led and nourished by Christ himself, the Good Shep-
herd and the Prince of the shepherds (cf. Jn 10:11; 1 Pet 5:4), who gave his life
for the sheep (cf. Jn 10:11-15)” (Vatican II, “Lumen Gentium”, 6).
The words of vv. 6-8 will later be used in the First Letter of St Peter to confirm the
validity of the precept of brotherly love (1 Pet 1:24-25).
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Reprinted with permission from from Four Courts Press and Scepter Publishers,
the U.S. publishers.
From: Acts 10:34-38
Peter’s Address
[34] And Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God
shows no partiality, [35] but in every nation any one who fears him and
does what is right is acceptable to him. [36] You know the word which
he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is
Lord of all), [37] the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea,
beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: [38] how
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how
he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the
devil, for God was with him.
Commentary:
34-43. Peter’s short address is his first to non-Jews. It begins with
the central idea that God is impartial: he wants all men to be saved
through the proclamation of the Gospel (vv. 34-36). This is followed
by a summary of Jesus’ public life (vv. 37-41) and, finally, the
statement (the first time it appears in Acts) that Jesus Christ has
been made Judge of the living and the dead (v. 42). As in all Christian
preaching to Gentiles, proofs from Scripture take a secondary place (v.
43).
34. This verse refers to 1 Samuel 16:7, where the Lord, in connection
with the anointing of David as king of Israel, tells the prophet, “Do
not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I
have rejected him; for the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” When God calls
and offers salvation to his elect, he does not judge as men do. With
him distinctions regarding social class, race, sex or education do not
count.
Here St Peter proclaims that the Old Testament prophecies about the
Jews and the Gentiles forming one single nation (Is 2:2-4; Joel 2:28;
Amos 9:12; Mich 4:1 ) and Jesus’ words calling everyone to enter his
Kingdom (cf. Mt 8:11; Mk 16:15-16; Jn 10:16) should be interpreted
literally.
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.
The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. This feast is also celebrated on January 3. Here is an explanation of the devotion.
Since the 16th century Catholic piety has associated entire months to special devotions. The devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus has been traditionally associated with the month of January, due to its celebration on January 3. The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31). The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer. Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: ". . . at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" (Phil. 2:10). By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Prayer/Hymn in Honor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus - Iesu, Dulcis Memoria
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
The Savior of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
0 joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity. Amen.
---Roman Breviary
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
O Divine Jesus, Thou hast promised that anything we ask of the Eternal Father in Thy name shall be granted.
O Eternal Father. In the name of Jesus, for the love of Jesus, in fulfillment of this promise, and because Jesus has said it, grant us our petitions for the sake of Jesus, Thy Divine Son. Amen.
Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O'Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954
Devotion to the Holy Name [of Jesus]
The Name of Jesus: Its Power in Our Lives
Devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus
Holy Father's Prayer Intentions For 2008
| Sunday, January 13, 2008 The Baptism of the Lord (Feast) |
||
|
|
|
||
| Other Articles by Fr. Paul Scalia Printer Friendly Version |
||
| The Greater Humility of God | ||
St. John the Baptist had an interesting reaction to our Lord's appearance at the Jordan. He "tried to prevent him, saying, 'I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?'" (Mt 3:14)
Now we should not think that the Baptist is being difficult or, on the other hand, merely polite. Rather, his display of reverence fits the occasion and in turn brings about the revelation of Our Lord's humility and His gift of baptism.
John's holy reluctance to baptize Our Lord comes not from an uncertainty about his mission but from the knowledge of his unworthiness. It is the proper reaction to Our Lord's presence. We find this same response in other Gospel figures.
When Our Lord announces that He will come to his house, the centurion in Capernaum cries out, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof" (Mt 8:8). When St. Peter perceives Our Lord's divinity, he falls on his knees and says, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Lk 5:8). And again, when our Lord goes to wash his feet at the Last Supper, St. Peter draws back saying, "You will never wash my feet." (Jn 13:8). Even John the Evangelist — the disciple whom Jesus loved — displays this reverence, falling on his face "as one dead" before our Lord (cf. Rv 1:17).
But there is more than just an acknowledgement of personal unworthiness at work here. St. John's reaction emphasizes Christ's greatness specifically at His baptism. He draws back from this baptism ultimately because he knows that Our Lord is the only one who can confer power upon the ritual. "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" He himself had told the crowds that the Christ would baptize "with the holy Spirit and fire" (Mt 3:11).
He realizes the absurdity of baptizing the one who alone can make baptism effective. And this absurdity only highlights how Our Lord redeems us: not through the various worldly powers the devil would offer Him in the desert, but through His humble assumption of our guilt. Thus John's humility anticipates a greater act of humility — that the holy one of God was about to submit to a baptism of repentance.
In the end, John's reticence must give way to God's humility. Our Lord tells him, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Mt 3:15). The time had come for John's holy fear to yield to Our Lord's plan of redemption.
The phrase "allow it now" might be misleading. It does not mean that John and Our Lord were play-acting. "Allow it now" does not mean "Let's just pretend." Rather, it indicates that the fullness of time had arrived and, man's attempts to justify himself proven futile, God had come as man to take the task upon Himself.
Accordingly, "to fulfill all righteousness" means that Christ takes upon Himself all our sins to set us right with God. By submitting to the baptism of John — a baptism of repentance, remember (cf. Mt 3:11) — Our Lord assumes the place of sinners. By being buried beneath the water, entering what Pope Benedict has called a "liquid tomb," our Lord identifies Himself with those loaded down — buried, entombed — by sin. The fulfillment of all righteousness begins in the Jordan when He unites Himself with sinners. It is consummated on the Cross when He Who knew no sin is made sin for us (cf. 2 Cor 5:21).
The exchange we witness at the Jordan between the Baptist and the Christ establishes a pattern for the living out of our baptism — that is, for the Christian life. It is a pattern of mutual humility between God and man. Like John, our reaction to the Lord's presence should be one of reverence and holy fear. We have to set aside our casual irreverence, that insensitivity to sacred things so characteristic of our culture. We must humble ourselves before Him. At the same time, we must recognize and accept that greater humility that alone raises ours to glory. He humbles Himself — receiving a baptism of repentance, assuming the full penalty of sin, to fulfill all righteousness — "so that we might become the righteousness of God in him" (cf. 2 Cor 5:21).
|
|
||
| Other Articles by Fr. Thomas Euteneuer Printer Friendly Version |
||
| The Consecration of the Lord | ||
The feast of the Baptism of the Lord which we will celebrate this Sunday is one of the greatest feast days in the Church's calendar but also one of the least understood. Although Baptism speaks to us of washing or cleansing, in the instance of Our Lord, there was no need for Him to be cleansed of sin. We look at this feast day, instead, as the celebration of the consecration of His human nature for the mission of salvation.
The Lord's Baptism follows the Epiphany; in the former, He was manifest as a "light to the nations," but light does not save souls in and of itself. In the latter, He becomes the effective channel through which all nations may access the Throne of Grace. We can say that this was the "ordination" of Jesus as High Priest of our faith.
The High Priest's humanity was not anointed with the sacred chrism oil made by human hands but rather by the "oil of gladness," i.e., the Holy Spirit, the eternal Sanctifier. This scene is a completely Trinitarian event in which the Father pronounces His deepest delight in the Son while the Holy Spirit descends as a dove to inaugurate the Reign of Peace over all men at that precise moment.
Jesus was thus consecrated for His mission of salvation. Immediately after that, the High Priest went out into the desert to engage in mortal combat with the devil and began to systematically undo his reign of terror over the whole human race. Undoubtedly, the consecration of Christ's humanity made Him heal and preach and cast out demons as signs that the Kingdom of God was breaking into the world.
As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, let us reflect on our own consecrations. The blessing of the Holy Spirit comes to each one of us for the first time at our own baptisms when we are anointed with the sacred oil of chrism. In this joyful ceremony, we are not only cleansed from Original Sin but also initiated into Christ's saving mission and given the spiritual gifts of faith, hope and charity to carry it out effectively.
Then, sometime after we reach the age of reason, we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and are consecrated again with the same oil of chrism. The graces that were given to us as little children in Baptism are now able to be personally assimilated, chosen and strengthened in the young person who accepts a new role in this mission, that of being a Soldier of Christ.
As a priest, I received an additional consecration at my ordination and became a living instrument to bring Christ's spiritual life to His people. Through the consecration of my hands, I am given the spiritual power to perform five of the seven sacraments which themselves sanctify, heal and bring souls out of darkness. Thus it is through the channel of God's grace created by a consecration that each of us is able to continue to have access to the Throne of Grace.
How much spiritual wisdom is contained in the Baptism of the Lord! Fundamentally, the Lord Jesus' consecration with the oil of gladness makes all other consecrations possible. On this special feast day, let us rejoice that we are "beloved sons and daughters" of the Father and that we are consecrated for the most important mission of all — salvation. All He requires of us is that we "remain in him as that anointing has taught us" (1 Jn 2:27).
Year A- The Baptism of the Lord
The Heavens were opened and the Spirit of God came upon Him Matthew 3:13-1713 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. |
I descended from Heaven with the special mission of redeeming the human race. This would involve first of all the cleansing of souls by repentance and then the commitment from all those who follow me through baptism. Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary
| First reading | Isaiah 42:1 - 7 © |
|---|---|
| Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame. Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver, nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth, for the islands are awaiting his law. I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; I have taken you by the hand and formed you; I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon. |
|
| Psalm or canticle: Psalm 28 |
| Second reading | Acts 10:34 - 38 © |
|---|---|
| Peter addressed them: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him. ‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. |
|
| Gospel | Matthew 3:13 - 17 © |
|---|---|
| Then Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands’. At this, John gave in to him. As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him’. |
|
| Mt 3:13-17 | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Douay-Rheims | Vulgate |
| 13 | Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. | tunc venit Iesus a Galilaea in Iordanen ad Iohannem ut baptizaretur ab eo |
| 14 | But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? | Iohannes autem prohibebat eum dicens ego a te debeo baptizari et tu venis ad me |
| 15 | And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfil all justice. Then he suffered him. | respondens autem Iesus dixit ei sine modo sic enim decet nos implere omnem iustitiam tunc dimisit eum |
| 16 | And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. | baptizatus autem confestim ascendit de aqua et ecce aperti sunt ei caeli et vidit Spiritum Dei descendentem sicut columbam venientem super se |
| 17 | And behold a voice from heaven saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. | et ecce vox de caelis dicens hic est Filius meus dilectus in quo mihi conplacui |
Interesting the despite the Catholic venue at the Cathedral in Seattle, the inscription is in Church Slavonic, “Appearance of the Lord”
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 28 (29) |
|---|
| Praise the word of the Lord |
| Give to the Lord, all his children, his glory and power, give to the Lord the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in holy splendour. The voice of the Lord is heard over the waters: the God of majesty thunders, God above all the waters. The voice of the Lord in his power, the voice of the Lord in his greatness. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, the Lord breaks down the cedars of Lebanon. The Lord makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a wild ox. The voice of the Lord cuts flames in two; the voice of the Lord beats on the desert, the Lord stuns the desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord puts the deer to flight, it empties the thickets; in his sanctuary, all praise his glory. The Lord dwells above the raging flood, he is enthroned as king for ever. The Lord will give strength to his people, the Lord will bless his people with peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 65 (66) |
|---|
| Hymn for a sacrifice of thanksgiving |
| Cry out to God, all the earth, sing psalms to the glory of his name, give him all glory and praise. Say to God, “How tremendous your works! Faced with the greatness of your power your enemies dwindle away. Let all the earth worship you and sing your praises, sing psalms to your name”. Come and see the works of God, be awed by what he has done for the children of men. He turned the sea into dry land, and they crossed the waters on foot: therefore will we rejoice in him. In his might he will rule for all time, his eyes keep watch on the nations: no rebellion will ever succeed. Bless our God, you nations, and let the sound of your praises be heard. Praise him who brought us to life, and saved us from stumbling. For you have tested us, O Lord, you have tried us by fire, as silver is tried. You led us into the trap, heaped tribulations upon us. You set other men to rule over us – but we passed through fire and water, and you led us out to our rest. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 65 (66) |
|---|
| I shall enter your house with burnt-offerings. I shall fulfil my vows to you, the vows that I made with my lips, the vows that I uttered in my troubles. I shall offer you rich burnt-offerings, the smoke of the flesh of rams; I shall offer you cattle and goats. Draw near and listen, you who fear the Lord, and I will tell all that he has done for me. I cried out aloud to him, and his praise was on my tongue. If I looked upon sin in the depths of my heart, the Lord would not hear me – but the Lord has listened, he has heard the cry of my appeal. Blessed be God, who has not spurned my prayer, who has not kept his mercy from me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Reading | Isaiah 42:1 - 49:9 © |
|---|---|
| Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame. Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver, nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth, for the islands are awaiting his law. Thus says God, the Lord, he who created the heavens and spread them out, who gave shape to the earth and what comes from it, who gave breath to its people and life to the creatures that move in it: I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; I have taken you by the hand and formed you; I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon. My name is ‘the Lord’, I will not yield my glory to another, nor my honour to idols. See how former predictions have come true. Fresh things I now foretell; before they appear I tell you of them. Islands, listen to me, pay attention, remotest peoples. The Lord called me before I was born, from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name. He made my mouth a sharp sword, and hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow, and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ‘You are my servant (Israel) in whom I shall be glorified’; while I was thinking, ‘I have toiled in vain, I have exhausted myself for nothing’; and all the while my cause was with the Lord, my reward with my God. I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord, my God was my strength. And now the Lord has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him: ‘It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth’. Thus says the Lord, the redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to him whose life is despised, whom the nations loathe, to the slave of despots: Kings will stand up when they see you, and princes will bow, for the sake of the Lord, who has been faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you. Thus says the Lord: At the favourable time I will answer you, on the day of salvation I will help you. (I have formed you and have appointed you as covenant of the people.) I will restore the land and assign you the estates that lie waste. I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out’, to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves’. On every roadway they will graze, and each bare height shall be their pasture. |
|
| Reading | A sermon by St Gregory Nazianzen |
|---|---|
| The baptism of Christ | |
| Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptised; let us also go down with him, and rise with him. John is baptising when Jesus draws near. Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptiser; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters. He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spirit and flesh comes to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water. The Baptist protests; Jesus insists. Then John says: I ought to be baptised by you. He is the lamp in the presence of the sun, the voice in the presence of the Word, the friend in the presence of the Bridegroom, the greatest of all born of woman in the presence of the firstborn of all creation, the one who leapt in his mother’s womb in the presence of him who was adored in the womb, the forerunner and future forerunner in the presence of him who has already come and is to come again. I ought to be baptised by you: we should also add, “and for you”, for John is to be baptised in blood, washed clean like Peter, not only by the washing of his feet. Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him. The heavens like Paradise with its flaming sword, closed by Adam for himself and his descendants, are rent open. The Spirit comes to him as to an equal, bearing witness to his Godhead. A voice bears witness to him from heaven, his place of origin. The Spirit descends in bodily form like the dove that so long ago announced the ending of the flood and so gives honour to the body that is one with God. Today let us do honour to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received – though not in its fullness – a ray of its splendour, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. |
|
| Hymn | Te Deum |
|---|---|
| God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you! You, the Father, the eternal – all the earth venerates you. All the angels, all the heavens, every power – The cherubim, the seraphim – unceasingly, they cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts: heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!” The glorious choir of Apostles – The noble ranks of prophets – The shining army of martyrs – all praise you. Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you. – Father of immeasurable majesty, – True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship, – Holy Spirit, our Advocate. You, Christ: – You are the king of glory. – You are the Father’s eternal Son. – You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb. – You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven to those who believe in you. – You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father. – You will come, so we believe, as our Judge. And so we ask of you: give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood. Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory. Bring your people to safety, Lord, and bless those who are your inheritance. Rule them and lift them high for ever. Day by day we bless you, Lord: we praise you for ever and for ever. Of your goodness, Lord, keep us without sin for today. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us. Let your pity, Lord, be upon us, as much as we trust in you. In you, Lord, I trust: let me never be put to shame. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
|
| Concluding Prayer |
|---|
| Almighty and eternal God, Christ was baptized in the river Jordan; the Holy Spirit descended on him; you solemnly declared him to be your beloved Son. You have chosen us to be your children and you have given us rebirth in the water of the Holy Spirit: look with favour on us always. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |
Feast of THE BAPTISM OF THE LORDIsaiah 42:1-4.6-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3: 13-17 MERRY CHRISTMASTIDE. Throughout the ages, Christians have celebrated Christmas as a season, including the twelve days between Christmas and the Epiphany as one long Christmas "day". The season of Christmas ends with our celebration of the Lord's baptism.
Jesus' public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan . (Lk 3:23; Acts 1:22). "The Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son.'(Mt 3:13-17) This is the manifestation ("Epiphany") of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God." (CCC 535)
Recounted in our liturgy through the proclamation of the gospel of St. Mark, chapter 1, verses 1-11, the baptism of the Lord is "on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already 'the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.' "(CCC 536)
What is revealed as only a sign of the Lord's coming death in John's 'baptism of repentance' is not merely a sign for the new Christian who rises from the waters of the sacramental font. For each of the baptized, the immersion in, or pouring of, water and the invocation of the Trinity is a real sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. "Through Baptism the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in his own baptism anticipates his death and resurrection. The Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father's beloved son in the Son and 'walk in newness of life' (Rom 6:4)"(CCC 537)
"Jesus' public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan . (Lk 3:23; Acts 1:22). The Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son.'(Mt 3:13-17) This is the manifestation ("Epiphany") of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God." (CCC 535)
St. Gregory of Nazianzus spoke well of this mystery when he preached: "Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him." (CCC 537) St. Hilary of Poitiers expressed, more poetically, our adoption as true sons and daughters of God in baptism:
“Everything that happened to Christ lets us know that, after the bath of water, the Holy Spirit swoops down upon us from high heaven and that, adopted by the Father's voice, we become sons of God.” (CCC 537)
The greatest of gifts is ours in baptism: God's very own life and love. A life to overcome the death which is our inheritance from Adam's sin, a love to overpower and win us away from love of self to love of God for his own sake and our neighbors for his glory.
Another of the baptismal gifts we receive is the ability, in Christ, to praise and worship the Father in the Holy Spirit, and to be found pleasing to God as we do so. The baptismal font was often placed in the courtyard or near the entrance of early churches, and the practice continues so in many places today. We "entered" the Body of Christ at the moment of our baptism. We became worshipping members of the Son, pleasing and beloved by the Father, through our baptism. This is why holy water fonts are placed near the entrance of our churches. As you dip your fingers into the font and make the sign of the cross each time you enter the His house to worship the Lord, remember it is by the power of your baptism that you render fitting and pleasing worship to God in your spiritual sacrifice of holiness of life and, most fully, the Eucharistic sacrifice. It is by your bath in the waters flowing from the side of Christ the High Priest in his one, perfect offering on the cross that you have been incorporated into the one, holy, catholic and apostolic body of Christ in the world, his bride the Church. |
Collect: Almighty, eternal God, when the Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan, you revealed him as your own beloved Son. Keep us, your children born of water and the Spirit, faithful to our calling. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. This brings to an end the season of Christmas. The Church recalls Our Lord's second manifestation or epiphany which occurred on the occasion of His baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons of God. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes.
In the Eastern Church this feast is called Theophany because at the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan God appeared in three persons. The baptism of John was a sort of sacramental preparatory for the Baptism of Christ. It moved men to sentiments of repentance and induced them to confess their sins. Christ did not need the baptism of John. Although He appeared in the "substance of our flesh" and was recognized "outwardly like unto ourselves", He was absolutely sinless and impeccable. He conferred upon the water the power of the true Baptism which would remove all the sins of the world: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who takes away the sin of the world".
Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin.
- Right Rev. Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas
The priest visits his parishioners to bless their homes with the holy water that the New Year may be one of cooperation with the gift of God; His Son and the participation in the Life He has come to lead us in toward Salvation. The evening meal is very much a repeat of the Holy Supper except that there are no restrictions on meat and dairy products. It starts with Kutia, which has been saved from Christmas Eve.
Jesus stoops so low as to mingle with the multitude of sinners, and forthwith the heavens are opened to magnify Him — He acknowledges Himself worthy of the strokes of divine justice, and behold, the Father declares that He takes all His delight in Him: Humiliavit semetipsom... propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum.
It is at this moment that the mission of Jesus, as One sent by God, is declared authentic. The Father's testimony accredits, so to speak, His Son before the world, and hence this testimony relates to one of the characters of Christ's work as regards ourselves.
The mission of Jesus has a double aspect: it bears at the same time the character of redemption and of sanctification. It is to redeem souls, and, this done, to infuse life into them. That is the whole work of the Savior.
— Christ in His Mysteries by Dom Columba Marmion
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 62 (63) |
|---|
| Thirsting for God |
| O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Daniel 3 |
|---|---|
| All creatures, bless the Lord | |
| Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever. Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord. Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord. Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever. Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever. Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever. |
|
| Psalm 149 |
|---|
| The saints rejoice |
| Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre, for the Lord’s favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory. Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds, the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands, to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron, to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Short reading | © |
|---|---|
| The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison;to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord. | |
| Canticle | Benedictus |
|---|---|
| The Messiah and his forerunner | |
| Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and brought about their redemption. He has raised up the sign of salvation in the house of his servant David, as he promised through the mouth of the holy ones, his prophets through the ages: to rescue us from our enemies and all who hate us, to take pity on our fathers, to remember his holy covenant and the oath he swore to Abraham our father, that he would give himself to us, that we could serve him without fear – freed from the hands of our enemies – in uprightness and holiness before him, for all of our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High: for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his path, to let his people know their salvation, so that their sins may be forgiven. Through the bottomless mercy of our God, one born on high will visit us to give light to those who walk in darkness, who live in the shadow of death; to lead our feet in the path of peace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
|
|
||||
| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| Almighty and eternal God, Christ was baptized in the river Jordan; the Holy Spirit descended on him; you solemnly declared him to be your beloved Son. You have chosen us to be your children and you have given us rebirth in the water of the Holy Spirit: look with favour on us always. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. |