Archive for January 9, 2021

Baptism of the Lord

Posted: January 9, 2021 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The Anointing: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Readings:
Isaiah 42:1–4, 6–7
Psalm 29:1–4, 9–10
Acts 10:34–38
Luke 3:15–16, 21–22

The Liturgy last week revealed the mystery of God’s plan—that in Jesus all peoples, symbolized by the magi, have been made “co-heirs” to the blessings promised to Israel. This week, we’re shown how we claim our inheritance.

Jesus doesn’t submit to John’s baptism as a sinner in need of purification. He humbles Himself to pass through Jordan’s waters in order to lead a new “exodus”—opening up the promised land of heaven so that all peoples can hear the words pronounced over Jesus today, words once reserved only for Israel and its king: that each of us is a beloved son or daughter of God (see Genesis 22:2; Exodus 4:22; Psalm 2:7).

Jesus is the chosen servant Isaiah prophesies in today’s First Reading, anointed with the Spirit to make things right and just on earth. God puts His Spirit upon Jesus to make Him “a covenant of
the people,” the liberator of the captives, the light to the nations. Jesus, today’s Second Reading tells us, is the One long expected in Israel, “anointed . . . with the Holy Spirit and power.”

The word Messiah means “one anointed” with God’s Spirit. King David was “the anointed of the God of Jacob” (see 2 Samuel 23:1–17; Psalm 18:51; 132:10, 17). The prophets taught Israel to await a royal offshoot of David, upon whom the Spirit would rest (see Isaiah 11:1–2; Daniel 9:25).

That’s why people of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to John. But it isn’t John they’re looking for. God confirms with His own voice what the Angel earlier told Mary—Jesus is the Son of the Most High, come to claim the throne of David forever (see Luke 1:32–33).

In the Baptism that He brings, the voice of God will hover over the waters as fiery flame, as we sing in today’s Psalm. He has sanctified the waters, made them a passage—a way to healing and freedom—a fountain of new birth and everlasting life.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: January 9, 2021 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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With all the knowledge we possess and with all our accomplishments in life. How many souls have we saved? How many have turned away from sin and now live in the joy of our Lord through us? How many have we led to greater Holiness? How many more have we invited as instructed, to the wedding feast that awaits us all?

Lord I have been prideful and let the ways of the world blind me to….

† my higher calling as Your disciple.

† my responsibility in leading my sisters and brothers, fellow children of God our Heavenly Father back home to Him.

† the fact that I fear rejection for proclaiming Your gospel truths to all because I placed all other priorities ahead, of growing in my faith and love of You.

† the needs of my community and to the deeper realisation that I need them just as they need me.

Jesus our Lord our God, we implore Your mercy for our many shortcomings. Grant us Your grace, strength and spirit to always carry out Your Will in humble servitude and love of You. May we Your Best Men and bridesmaids stand ready in joyful anticipation to hear Your voice when You come again. Amen

First reading
1 John 5:14-21 ·
If we ask for anything, he will hear us


We are quite confident that if we ask the Son of God for anything, and it is in accordance with his will, he will hear us; and, knowing that whatever we may ask, he hears us, we know that we have already been granted what we asked of him.
If anybody sees his brother commit a sin
that is not a deadly sin, he has only to pray, and God will give life to the sinner – not those who commit a deadly sin; for there is a sin that is death, and I will not say that you must pray about that.
Every kind of wrong-doing is sin, but not all sin is deadly.

We know that anyone who has been begotten by God does not sin, because the begotten Son of God protects him, and the Evil One does not touch him.
We know that we belong to God, but the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One.
We know, too, that the Son of God has come,
and has given us the power to know the true God.
We are in the true God, as we are in his Son, Jesus Christ.
This is the true God, this is eternal life.
Children, be on your guard against false gods.


Gospel
John 3:22-30
‘He must grow greater and I must grow smaller: my joy is complete’

Jesus went with his disciples into the Judaean countryside and stayed with them there and baptised. At the same time John was baptising at Aenon near Salim, where there was plenty of water, and people were going there to be baptised. This was before John had been put in prison.
    Now some of John’s disciples had opened a discussion with a Jew about purification, so they went to John and said, ‘Rabbi, the man who was with you on the far side of the Jordan, the man to whom you bore witness, is baptising now; and everyone is going to him.’
    John replied:

‘A man can lay claim
only to what is given him from heaven.

‘You yourselves can bear me out: I said: I myself am not the Christ; I am the one who has been sent in front of him.

‘The bride is only for the bridegroom;
and yet the bridegroom’s friend,
who stands there and listens,
is glad when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
This same joy I feel, and now it is complete.
He must grow greater, I must grow smaller.’