Catholic Caucus: Sunday Mass Readings, 01-12-14, Feast, Baptism of the Lord

January 2014
Pope's Intentions
Universal: That all may promote authentic economic development that respects the dignity of all peoples.

For Evangelization: That Christians of diverse denominations may walk toward the unity desired by Christ.

Daily Gospel Commentary

The Baptism of the Lord - Feast - Year A

Commentary of the day
Saint Gregory Nazianzen (330-390), Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 39, for the festival of lights; PG 36, 359 (trans. Breviary, Baptism of the Lord)

"Thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness"

John is in process of baptizing and Jesus comes to him: he comes himself to sanctify the man about to baptize him. He comes to drown the first Adam completely in the waters but, beforehand and in view of it, to make the waters of the Jordan holy. He who is spirit and flesh wants to bring man to completion through water and the Spirit (Jn 3,4).

John will not receive him; Jesus contends. “I need to be baptised by you”, says the lamp to the Sun, the voice to the Word, the friend to the Bridegroom, the one who is greater than all those born of women to him who is the Firstborn of every creature (Jn 5,35; 3,29; Mt 11,11; Col 1,15), the one who leaped in the womb to him who was adored in the womb, the one who was and is the Forerunner to him who was and is to be manifested: “I need to be baptised by you”. We might add to this: “by giving my life for you”; for he knew that he would be baptised by martyrdom...

Further, Jesus goes up out of the water. Together with himself he carries up the world and sees the heavens split open that Adam had shut against himself and all his posterity, as the gates of Paradise by the flaming sword (Gn 3,24). And the Spirit bears witness to his Godhead, for he descends upon One who is like him in the same way as the Voice from heaven (for he to whom witness is borne comes from thence), and like a dove seen in bodily form he bestows honor on his body.

Arlington Catholic Herald

Why was Jesus baptized?

Fr. Paul Scalia

Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic | CNS Photo

Christ's baptism by John the Baptist at the Jordan River is depicted in a stained-glass window at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Greenlawn, N.Y. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, celebrated Jan. 12 this year, marks the end of the Christmas season.

Why was Jesus baptized? Christians have asked this question for centuries. Sinless, He had no need to repent and therefore no need of John’s baptism “for repentance.” Likewise He has no need of Christian baptism. As the Holy One of Israel, He has no sins to be washed away. As the eternal Son, the waters of rebirth are superfluous to Him. Even John the Baptist wonders at Jesus’ approach for baptism. Trying to prevent Him John says, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” (Mt 3:14) Why then was He baptized?

To make sense of His baptism, we need to situate it within the overall unity of Our Lord’s life. He more than anyone possessed unity of life. The various events, actions and words of His life were not isolated and unconnected but united and coordinated. Specifically, they all find unity in His self-emptying for our salvation, descending to the depths in order to redeem us. His entire life is a downward trajectory, God descending in the person of Christ to raise man from his misery.

With this descent in mind, we can come to some understanding of His baptism by considering first its relation to His birth. This feast falls close to Christmas, to end the season. Our Lord’s birth and baptism were years apart, of course. But liturgically they are brought together, as bookends of Christmas, because they share a common purpose. And that commonality sheds light on the events at the Jordan. As Fulton Sheen puts it, “The object of His baptism was the same as the object of His birth, to identify with sinful humanity.” In Bethlehem we encounter Him born as one of us. At the Jordan we encounter Him freely choosing to be identified with us sinners.

We understand His baptism also in light of what lay ahead: His Passion and death. In response to John the Baptist’s resistance Jesus says, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:15). This “righteousness” is that right relationship between God and man that the Redeemer brings. We are restored to righteousness not by our own knowledge, not by our own efforts, not even by John’s baptism for repentance, but by Jesus’ coming into the world and taking all sin upon Himself — by His submission to John in baptism. Our Lord’s descent into the water expresses His assumption of our guilt and anticipates His death, burial and descent into hell (the lowest point of the downward trajectory). The waters of the Jordan that covered Him have been described as a “liquid tomb,” thus indicating the unity of His baptism and His Passion.

So Jesus’ baptism is of a piece in the downward trend of the Incarnation. He descends to earth at His birth, and He keeps descending. From humble origins in Bethlehem, to ignominious exile in Egypt; from subordination to Joseph and Mary in Nazareth, to submission to John at the Jordan; from association “with tax collectors and sinners,” to rejection by His own people; from crucifixion with common criminals to burial in a stranger’s tomb — His life is (to use J.R.R. Tolkien’s line) one long defeat that ends in victory. One long descent that ends in ascension.

His baptism prompts us to think of our own. Just as His was not an isolated event but set the trajectory of His public life, so also ours must bring unity and purpose to our entire life. Baptism is not only the beginning of Christian life but also the pattern of it. Yes, we believe in “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.” But that does not mean that we leave our baptism in the baptistery, any more than Our Lord left His at the Jordan. Our dying and rising is constant and continual. Each day we die — to our selfish desires, to our pride, to the world’s temptations — so that we can rise in being united with Him. Only if we are willing to descend into the waters with Him — not once but daily — will we be able to rise from them with Him as well.

Fr. Scalia is Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde’s delegate for clergy.

The Work of God

Year A

- The Baptism of the Lord

The Heavens were opened and the Spirit of God came upon Him

Matthew 3:13-17

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." (NRSV)

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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.

The Holy Trinity was present in the solemn event of my Baptism. My Father spoke lovingly from Heaven confirming that His favour rests on me. I sanctified the waters of baptism, opening the way for the purification of souls. The Holy Spirit descended upon me to fill me and to strengthen me for my work on earth.

I set an example for all to follow, in fact Baptism is the sacrament of initiation into the Christian Life. Those who believe in my teachings and are baptised will be saved. In baptism I fill the soul with the fire of my Holy Spirit, I make the soul a part of my mystical body, I grant my sanctifying grace to the spirit of the baptised so that his conscience will carry the light that I came to give to the world.

In baptism you are clothed with my grace, my light and my protection, in other words you are clothed with Christ. My light is that power that the soul needs to grow, to thrive and to acquire the merits of my salvation.

For those who repent and desire to be purified with the waters of salvation, I grant the fire of the Holy Spirit to increase their faith and to make them see with the eyes of the spirit, a heavenly gift that is hidden to those who prefer the world. I baptise with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

When a child is baptised, he carries the seeds of my love within him, he becomes my son, my beloved and my favour rests on him. I send my Holy Spirit to guide him through life and my sanctifying grace to lead him; he has very intimate encounters with me in the practice of his faith and in the Sacraments of the Church.

When and adult is baptised, he experiences my love and my mercy, I forgive all his sins and he is clothed in my light. Even though he is old, he is born again into life.

There is only one baptism; this is the firm ground on which the other sacraments rest for the sanctification of the soul.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Archdiocese of Washington

The Bountiful Blessings of Baptism

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a moment to reflect not only on the Lord’s baptism, but also on our own. For in an extended sense, when Christ is baptized, so are we, for we are members of his body. As Christ enters the water, he makes holy the water that will baptize us. He enters the water and we who are members of his Body go with him. And in these waters he acquires gifts to give us, as we shall see below.

Let’s examine this text in three stages:

1. The Fraternity of Baptism – The text says 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?”

John is surely puzzled about Jesus requesting baptism. And likely so are we. Why? John’s baptism of repentance presumes the presence of sin. But the scriptures are clear, Jesus had no sin.

For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15 ).
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin (1 John 3:5 ).

So why does Jesus ask for baptism? He will answer this in a moment.

But first let’s consider this dramatic fact: Jesus identifies with sinners, even if he never sinned. As he comes to the riverside he has no ego concerns. He is not embarrassed or ashamed that some might think him a sinner even though he was not. It is a remarkable humiliation he accepts to be found in the company of sinners like us, and even to be seen as one of us. He freely enters the waters and, to any outsider who knew him not, he would simply be numbered among the sinners, which he was not.

Consider how amazing this is. The Scripture says He is not ashamed to call us his Brethren (Heb 2:11). It also says God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus ate with sinners to the scandal of many of the religious leaders: -This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” (Lk 15:2). Jesus was known as a friend of sinners, had pity on the woman caught in adultery, allowed a sinful woman to touch him and anoint his feet. He cast out demons and fought for sinners. He suffered and died for sinners in the way reserved for the worst criminals. He was crucified between two thieves and He was assigned a grave among the wicked (Is 53).

Praise God, Jesus is not ashamed to be found in our presence and to share a brotherhood with us. There is a great shedding of his glory in doing this. Again, Scripture says, [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself (Phil 1:3)

2. The Fulfillment of Baptism – The text says: Jesus said to [John] in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.

The Fathers of the Church are of varying opinions as exactly what Christ means by fulfilling all righteousness.

Chromatius links the righteousness to all the sacraments and the salvation they confer: “This is true righteousness, that the Lord and Master should fulfill in himself every sacrament of our salvation. Therefore the Lord did not want to be baptized for his own sake but for ours” (tractate on Matthew 13.2)
Chrysostom links it to the end and fulfillment of the Old Covenant: He is in effect saying, Since then we have performed all the rest of the commandments, this Baptism alone remains. I have come to do away with the curse that is appointed for the transgression of the Law. So I must therefore fulfill it all and, having delivered you from its condemnation, bringing it to an end. (Homily on Matt 12.1)
Theodore of Mopsuestia sees Christ to mean that he is perfecting John’s Baptism which was only a symbol of the true Baptism. The Baptism of John…was perfect according to the precept of Law, but it was imperfect in that it did not supply remission of sin but merely made people fit of receiving the perfect one….And Jesus makes this clear saying, ‘For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ (Fragment 13).

From another perspective, the word “righteousness” refers, biblically, to God’s fidelity to his promises. Thus, is this sense, Jesus would mean that his baptism would be the sign of the fulfillment of God’s righteous promise of salvation. God had promised this and God is faithful to his promises. Jesus’ baptism indicates this. How?

St. Maximus of Turin speaks of the Old Testament prefigurement of baptism at the Red sea and then shows how Christ fulfills it:

I understand the mystery as this. The column of fire went before the sons of Israel through the Red Sea so that they could follow on their brave journey; the column went first through the waters to prepare a path for those who followed……But Christ the Lord does all these things: in the column of fire He went through the sea before the sons of Israel; so now in the column of his body he goes through baptism before the Christian people….At the time of the Exodus the column…made a pathway through the waters; now it strengthens the footsteps of faith in the bath of baptism. (de sancta Epiphania 1.3)

So what God promised in the in the Old Testament by way of prefigurement he now fulfils in Christ. They were delivered from the slavery of Egypt as the column led them through the waters. But more wonderfully, we are delivered from the slavery to sin as the column of Christ’s body leads us through the waters of baptism. God’s righteousness is his fidelity to his promises. Hence Jesus says, in his baptism and all it signifies (his death and resurrection) he has come to fulfill all righteous and he thus fulfills the promises made by God at the Red Sea and throughout the Old Testament.

3. The Four Gifts of Baptism - The Text says, 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.“

Eph 5:30 says we are members of Christ’s body. Thus when Jesus goes into the water we go with him. And in going there he acquires four gifts on our behalf as this text sets them forth. Lets look at the four gifts he acquires on our behalf:

Access - the heavens are opened . The heavens and paradise had been closed to us after Original Sin. But now, at Jesus’ baptism, the text says the heavens are opened. Jesus acquires this gift for us. So, at our baptism, the heavens open for us and we have access to the Father and to the heavenly places. Scripture says: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, (Romans 5:1) It also says, For through Jesus we have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Eph 2:17). Hence the heavens are opened also at our own Baptism and we have access to the Father.
Anointing - the Spirit of God descends on him like a dove – Here too, Jesus acquires the Gift of the Holy Spirit for us. In Baptism we are not just washed of sins, but we also become temples of the Holy Spirit. After baptism there is the anointing with chrism which signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit. For adults this is Confirmation. But even for infants, there is an anointing at baptism to recognize that the Spirit of God dwells in the baptized as in a temple. Scripture says, Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (1 Cor 3:16)
Acknowledgment – this is my beloved Son. Jesus receives this acknowledgment from his Father for the faith of those who heard, but also to acquire this gift for us. In our own Baptism we become the children of God. Since we become members of Christ’s body, we now have the status of sons of God. On the day of your Baptism the heavenly Father acknowledged you as his own dear Child. Scripture says: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal 3:26)
Approval – I am well pleased . Jesus had always pleased his Father. But now he acquires this gift for you as well. Our own Baptism gives us sanctifying grace. Sanctifying grace is the grace to be holy and pleasing to God. Scripture says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Eph 1:1-3)

Thus, at his Baptism, Christ acquired these gifts for us so that our own Baptism we could receive them. Consider well the glorious gift of your Baptism. Perhaps you know the exact day. It should be a day as highly celebrated as your birthday. Christ is baptized for our sakes, not his own. All these gifts had always been his. Now, in his baptism he fulfills God’s righteousness by going into the water to get them for you. It’s alright to say, “Hallelujah!”

Sunday Gospel Reflections

Baptism of the Lord
Reading I: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7 II: Acts 10:34-38

Gospel
Matthew 3:13-17

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented.
¹⁶ And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;
¹⁷ and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Interesting Details

(v.14) Matthew's account is based on Mark's rather straightforward and direct version. Mark's story was an embarrassment to the early church, because it was thought unsuitable that the sinless Jesus should be baptized for His sins. Matthew therefore omits the reference in Mark 1:4 to the forgiveness of sins and adds the dialogue.
(v.15) "righteousness", this word recalls that of Isaiah 42:6 in today's first reading "I have called you in righteousness," that is, in order to fulfill my purpose in salvation history. Thus, Jesus' submission to John's baptism was part of God's plan, so that Jesus would be manifested as the servant of Yahweh.
(v.16) That the Spirit descended on Him means that Jesus has been anointed as Messiah (Acts 10:37-38)
(v.17) "voice" - In Mark, the voice says "You are" rather than "This is." Here the words are addressed to others present. Jesus is publicly acknowledged as the Son of God. This makes the event more clearly a manifestation of Jesus to the world, echoing the Epiphany.

One Main Point

Jesus is revealed by His Father to be the Son who alone knows God's will. He is the "servant," "beloved," "chosen one" with whom God was "well pleased."

Reflections

Reflect on God's will for you throughout your life.
Recall an incident in your life when you felt deeply God's love for you.

Sunday, January 12, 2014
The Baptism of the Lord (Feast)

First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29:1-4, 3, 9-10
Acts 10: 34-38
Matthew 3:13-17

It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction.

-- St Edmund

Just A Minute (Listen)
Some of EWTN's most popular hosts and guests in a collection of one minute inspirational messages. A different message each time you click.

The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

The Baptism of the Lord

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The Sunday in which we commemorate our Lord's Baptism provides an opportunity for the entire family to discuss this sacrament. Children baptized as infants, of course, cannot remember their own baptisms, but they will love to be shown photographs of their Christenings and told of how this special day was celebrated. You may want to get out the baptismal gown or baptismal candle to give the children a visual reminder of their initiation into the Christian faith.

Christ's Baptism - from the Catechism of the Catholic Church
1223 - All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by Saint John the Baptist in the Jordan. After His resurrection Christ gives this mission to His apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

1224 - Our Lord voluntarily submitted Himself to the baptism of Saint John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness". Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of His self-emptying. The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as His "beloved Son."

1225 - In His Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of His Passion, which He was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which He had to be baptized. The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life. From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

See where you are baptized, see where Baptism comes from, if not from the cross of Christ, from His death. There is the whole mystery: He died for you. In Him you are redeemed, in Him you are saved.

For more from the Catechism go to the Links page.

From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

119. Closely connected with the salvific events of the Epiphany are the mysteries of the Baptism of the Lord and the manifestation of His glory at the marriage feast of Cana.

Christmastide closes with the Baptism of the Lord. Only in recent times has the feast been rehabilitated, and hence has not given rise to any particular displays of popular piety. However, the feast presents an excellent opportunity for the faithful to be reminded of their rebirth as children of God in Baptism. The rite of asperges could be opportunely used at all Masses on this day, and homilies could well concentrate on the symbols associated with Baptism.

Mass in the Sistine Chapel and Administration of the Sacrament of Baptism, Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, 11 January 2009

Mass in the Sistine Chapel and Administration of the Sacrament of Baptism, Homily of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 13, 2008

Readings for the Baptism of Christ

Collect:
Almighty ever-living God,
who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan
and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him,
solemnly declared him your beloved Son,
grant that your children by adoption,
reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
may always be well pleasing to you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

or

O God, whose Only Begotten Son
has appeared in our very flesh,
grant, we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed
through him whom we recognize as outwardly like ourselves,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

Years A, B and C

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7

Behold My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him, He will bring forth justice to the nations.

He will not cry or lift up His voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for His law.... "I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness, I have taken You by the hand and kept You; I have given You as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

OR
Year B Isaiah 55:1-11
"Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness. Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, My steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call nations that you know not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Year C Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. 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.

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. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; 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!" Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. 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.

Years A, B and C
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38

And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. You know the word which He sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all), the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 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.

OR
Year B 1 John 5:1-9
Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is He who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth. There are three witnesses, the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that He has borne witness to His Son.

Year C Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds.

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Year A
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Year B
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:7-11
John preached, saying, "After me comes He who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."

Year C

Gospel Reading: Luke 3:15-16,21-22
As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but He who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art My beloved Son; with Thee I am well pleased."

[Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (Ignatius Press)]

Information: St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (Canada)

Feast Day: January 12

Born: 17 April 1620, Troyes, France

Died: 12 January 1700, Montreal,

Canada Canonized: 31 October 1982, by Pope John Paul II

Major Shrine: Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, Montreal

Patron: Against poverty, loss of parents, people rejected by religious orders

Information: St. Bernard of Corleone

Feast Day: January 12

Born: 1605, Sicily

Died: 12 January 1667, Palermo

Canonized: 10 June 2001, by Pope John Paul II

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys

Feast Day: January 12
Born:1620 :: Died:1700

Marguerite was born in Troyes, France, and was the sixth of twelve children. Her parents were devout people and lived holy lives. When Marguerite was nineteen, her mother died. Marguerite took care of her younger brothers and sisters. Then her father died when she was twenty-seven.

The family was now raised and Marguerite prayed to know what to do with her life. The governor of Montreal, Canada, was visiting France. He tried to find teachers for the New World and he invited Marguerite to come to Montreal to teach school and religion classes. She said yes.

Marguerite gave away her all her money and belongings to other members of the family. They couldn't believe that she would really leave their civilized country to go to a wild new country across the ocean. But she did.

She sailed on June 20, 1653, and arrived in Canada in mid-November. Marguerite began the construction of a chapel in honor Our Lady of Good Help in 1657. Then in 1658, she opened her first school.

Marguerite needed the help of more teachers. She returned to France in 1659 and returned with four companions. In 1670, she went to France again and brought back six companions. These brave women became the first sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame.

St. Marguerite and her sisters helped people in the colony survive when food was scarce. They opened a vocational school and taught young people how to run a home and farm.

St. Marguerite's congregation was growing. By 1681 there were eighteen sisters. Seven were Canadian. They opened more missions and two sisters taught at the Indian mission. St. Marguerite herself received the first two Indian women into the congregation.

When Mother Marguerite was seventy three years old, she handed over her congregation to the new superior Marie Barbier, who the first Canadian to join the order. St. Marguerite's religious rule was approved by the Church in 1698.

Marguerite spent her last few years praying and writing an autobiography. On December 31, 1699, a young sister lay dying. Mother Marguerite asked the Lord to take her life in exchange.

By the morning of January 1, 1700, the sister was completely well and Mother Marguerite had a very high fever. She suffered for twelve days and died on January 12, 1700.

The Bountiful Blessings of Baptism
"Why did Jesus insist on being baptized?"
Jesus, the Beginning of the New Creation: The Readings for the Baptism of the Lord
Feast of THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD [Catholic Caucus]
The Theophany of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
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

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 3
13.	Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.	Tunc venit Jesus a Galilæa in Jordanem ad Joannem, ut baptizaretur ab eo.	τοτε παραγινεται ο ιησους απο της γαλιλαιας επι τον ιορδανην προς τον ιωαννην του βαπτισθηναι υπ αυτου
14.	But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?	Joannes autem prohibebat eum, dicens : Ego a te debeo baptizari, et tu venis ad me ?	ο δε ιωαννης διεκωλυεν αυτον λεγων εγω χρειαν εχω υπο σου βαπτισθηναι και συ ερχη προς με
15.	And Jesus answering, said to him: Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice. Then he suffered him.	Respondens autem Jesus, dixit ei : Sine modo : sic enim decet nos implere omnem justitiam. Tunc dimisit eum.	αποκριθεις δε ο ιησους ειπεν προς αυτον αφες αρτι ουτως γαρ πρεπον εστιν ημιν πληρωσαι πασαν δικαιοσυνην τοτε αφιησιν αυτον
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 Jesus, confestim ascendit de aqua, et ecce aperti sunt ei cæli : et vidit Spiritum Dei descendentem sicut columbam, et venientem super se.	και βαπτισθεις ο ιησους ανεβη ευθυς απο του υδατος και ιδου ανεωχθησαν αυτω οι ουρανοι και ειδεν το πνευμα του θεου καταβαινον ωσει περιστεραν και ερχομενον επ αυτον
17.	And behold a voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.	Et ecce vox de cælis dicens : Hic est Filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi complacui.	και ιδου φωνη εκ των ουρανων λεγουσα ουτος εστιν ο υιος μου ο αγαπητος εν ω ευδοκησα

13. Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.
14. But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of You, and You come to me?
15. And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer it to he so now, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him.

GLOSS. Christ having been proclaimed to the world by time preaching of His forerunner, now after long obscurity will manifest Himself to men.

REMIG. In this verse is contained person, place, time, and office. Time, in the word, Then.

RABAN. That is, when He was thirty years old, showing that none should be ordained priest, or even to preach till He be of full age. Joseph at thirty years was made governor of Egypt; David began to reign, and Ezekiel his prophesying at the same age.

CHRYS. Because after His baptism Christ was to put an end to the Law, tie therefore came to be baptized at this age, that having so kept the Law, it might not be said that He canceled it, because He could not observe it.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. Then, that is when John preached, that He might confirm his preaching, and Himself receive his witness. But as when the morning-star has risen, the sun does not wait for that star to set, but rising as it goes forward, gradually obscures its brightness, so Christ waited not for John to finish his course, but appeared while he yet taught.

REMIG. The Persons are described in the words, came Jesus to John; that is, God to man, the Lord to His servant, the King to His soldier, the Light to the lamp. The Place, from Galilee to Jordan. Galilee means 'transmigration.' Whoso then will be baptized, must pass from vice to virtue, and humble himself in coming to baptism, for Jordan means 'descent.'

AMBROSE; Scripture tells of many wonders wrought at various times in this river; as that, among others, in the Psalms, Jordan was driven backwards (Psalms 114:3); before the water was driven back, now sins are turned back in its current; as Elijah divided the waters of old, so Christ the Lord wrought in the same Jordan the separation of sin.

REMIG. The office to be performed: that He might be baptized of him; not baptism to the remission of sins, but to leave the water sanctified for those after to be baptized.

AUG. The Savior willed to be baptized not that He might Himself be cleansed, but to cleanse the water for us. From the time that Himself was dipped in time water, from that time has He washed away all our sins in water. And let none wonder that water, itself corporeal substance, is said to be effectual to the purification of the soul; it is so effectual, reaching to and searching out the hidden recesses of the conscience. Subtle and penetrating in its own nature, made yet more so by Christ's blessing, it touches the hidden springs of life, the secret places of the soul, by virtue of its all-pervading dew. The course of blessing is even yet more penetrating than the flow of waters. Thus the blessing which like a spiritual river flows on from the Savior's baptism, has filled the basins of all pools, and the courses of all fountains.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. He comes to baptism, that He who has taken upon Him human nature, may be found to have fulfilled the whole mystery of that nature; not that He is Himself a sinner, but He has taken on Himself a nature that is sinful. And therefore though He needed not baptism Himself, yet the carnal nature in others needed it.

AMBROSE; Also like a wise master inculcating His doctrines as much by His own practice as by word of mouth, He did that which He commanded all His disciples to do.

AUG. He deigned to be baptized of John that the servants might see with what readiness they ought to run to the baptism of the Lord, when He did not refuse to be baptized of His servant.

JEROME; Also that by being Himself baptized, He might sanction the baptism of John.

CHRYS. But since John's baptism was to repentance, and therefore showed the presence of sin, that none might suppose Christ's coming to the Jordan to have been on this account, John cried to Him, I have need to be baptized of You, and come You to me? As if he had said,

PSEUDO-CHRYS. That You should baptize me there is good cause, that I may be made righteous and worthy of heaven; but that I should baptize You, what cause is there? Every good gift comes down from heaven upon earth, not ascends from earth to heaven.

HILARY; John rejects Him from baptism as God; He teaches him, that it ought to be performed on Him as man.

JEROME; Beautifully said is that now, to show that as Christ was baptized with water by John, so John must be baptized by Christ with the Spirit. Or, suffer now that I who have taken the form of a servant should fulfill all that low estate; otherwise know that in the day of judgment you must be baptized with my baptism. Or, the Lord says, 'Suffer this now; I have also another baptism wherewithal I must be baptized; you baptize Me with water, that I may baptize you for Me with my own blood.'

PSEUDO-CHRYS. In this he shows that Christ after this baptized John, which is expressly told in some apocryphal books . Suffer now that I fulfill the righteousness of baptism in deed, and not only in word; first submitting to it, and then preaching it; for so it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Not that by being baptized He fulfills all righteousness, but so, in time same manner, that is, as He first fulfilled the righteousness of baptism by His deeds, and after preached it, so He might all other righteousness, according to that of the Acts, All things that Jesus began both to do and to teach. Or thus, all righteousness, according to the ordinance of human nature; as He had before fulfilled the righteousness of birth, growth, and the like.

HILARY; For by Him must all righteousness have been fulfilled, by whom alone the Law could be fulfilled.

JEROME. Righteousness; but he adds neither 'of the Law,' nor 'of nature,' that we may understand it of both.

REMIG. Or thus, it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness, that is, to give an example of perfect justification in baptism, without which the gate of the kingdom of heaven is not opened. Hence let the proud take an example of humility, and not scorn to be baptized by My humble members when they see Me baptized by John My servant. That is true humility which obedience accompanies; as it continues, then he suffered Him, that is, at last consented to baptize Him.

16. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him.

AMBROSE;For, as we have said, when the Savior was washed, then the water was cleansed for our baptism, that a laver might be ministered to time people who were to come. Moreover, it is necessary that in Christ's baptism should be signified those things which the faithful obtain by baptism.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. This action of Christ's has a figurative meaning pertaining to all who were after Him to be baptized; and therefore he says, straightway He ascended, and not simply He ascended, for all who are worthily baptized in Christ, straightway ascend from the water; that is, make progress in virtues, and are carried on towards a heavenly dignity. They who had gone down to the water carnal and sinful sons of Adam, straightway ascend from the water spiritual sons of God. But if some by their own faults make no progress after baptism, what is that to the baptism?

RABANUS;As by the immersion of His body He dedicated the laver of baptism, He has shown that to us also after baptism received the entrance to heaven is open, and the Holy Spirit is given, as it follows, and the heavens were opened.

JEROME. Not by an actual cleaving of the visible element, but to the spiritual eye, as Ezekiel also in the beginning of his book relates that he saw them.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. For had the actual creation of the heavens been opened, he would not have said were opened to Him, for a physical opening would have been open to all. But some one will say, What, are the heavens then closed to the eye of the Son of God, who even when on earth is present in heaven? But it must be known, that as He was baptized according to the ordinance of humanity that He had taken on Him, so the heavens were opened to His sight as to His human nature, though as to His divine He was in heaven.

REMIG. But was this then the first time that the heavens were opened to Him according to His human nature? The faith of the Church both believes and holds that the heavens were no less open to Him before than after. It is therefore said here, that the heavens were opened because to all them who are born again the door of the kingdom of heaven is opened.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. Perhaps there were before some unseen obstacles which hindered the souls of the dead from entering the skies. I suppose that since Adam's sin no soul had mounted the skies, but the heavens were continually closed. When, lo, on Christ's baptism they were again opened; after He had overcome by the Cross the great tyrant death, henceforward the heaven, never more to be closed, needed not gates, so that the Angels say not, 'Open the gates,' for they were open, but take away the gates. Or the heavens are opened to the baptized, and they see those things which are in heaven, not by seeing them with the bodily eye, but by believing with the spiritual eye of faith. Or thus; The heavens are the divine Scriptures, which all read but all do not understand, except they who have been so baptized as to receive the Holy Spirit. Thus the Scriptures of the Prophets were at the first sealed to the Apostles, but after they had received the Holy Spirit, all Scripture was opened to them. However, in whatever way we interpret, the heavens were opened to Him, that is to all, on His account; as if the Emperor were to say to anyone preferring a petition for another, This favor I grant not to him but to you; that is, to him, for your sake.

GLOSS. Or, so bright a glory shone round about Christ, that the blue concave seemed to he actually cloven.

CHRYS. But though you see it not, be not therefore unbelieving, for in the beginnings of spiritual matters sensible visions are always offered, for their sakes who can form no idea of things that have no body; which if they occur not in later times, yet faith may be established by those wonders once wrought.

REMIG. As to all those who by baptism are born again, the door of the kingdom of heaven is opened, so all in baptism receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

AUG. Christ after He had been once born among men, is born a second time in the sacraments, that as we adore Him then born of a pure mother, so we may now receive Him immersed in pure water. His mother brought forth her Son, and is yet virgin; the wave washed Christ, and is holy. Lastly, that Holy Spirit which was present to Him in the womb, now shone round Him in the water, He who then made Mary pure, now sanctifies the waters.

PSEUDO-CHRYS. The Holy Ghost took the likeness of a dove, as being more than other animals susceptible of love. All other forms of righteousness which the servants of God have in truth and verity, the servants of the Devil have in spurious imitation; the love of the Holy Spirit alone an unclean spirit cannot imitate. And the Holy Ghost has therefore reserved to Himself this special manifestation of love, because by no testimony is it so clearly seen where He dwells as by the grace of love.

RABAN. Seven excellencies in the baptized are figured by the dove. The dove has her abode near the rivers, that when the hawk is seen, she may dive under water and escape; she chooses the better grains of corn; she feeds the young of other birds; she does not tear with her beak; she lacks a gall; she has her rest in the caverns of the rocks; for her song she has a plaint. Thus the saints dwell beside the streams of Divine Scripture, that they may escape the assaults of the Devil; they choose wholesome doctrine, and not heretical for their food; they nourish by teaching and example, men who have been the children of the Devil, i. e the imitators; they do not pervert good doctrine by tearing it to pieces as the heretics do; they are without hate irreconcilable; they build their nest in the wounds of Christ's death, which is to them a firm rock, that is their refuge and hope; as others delight in song, so do they in groaning for their sin.

CHRYS. It is moreover an allusion to ancient history; for in the deluge this creature appeared bearing an olive-branch, and tidings of rest to the world. All which things were a type of things to come. For now also a dove appears pointing out to us our liberator, and for an olive-branch bringing the adoption of the human race.

AUG. It is easy to understand how the Holy Ghost should be said to be sent, when as it were a dove in visible shape descended on the Lord; that is, there was created a certain appearance for the time in which the Holy Spirit might be visibly shown. And this operation thus made visible and offered to mortal view, is called the mission of the Holy Spirit, not that His invisible substance was seen, but that the hearts of men might be roused by the external appearance to contemplate the unseen eternity. Yet this creature in the shape of which the Spirit appeared, was not taken into unity of person, as was that human shape taken of the Virgin. For neither did the Spirit bless the dove, nor unite it with Himself for all eternity, in unity of person. Further, though that dove is called the Spirit, so far as to show that in this dove was a manifestation of the Spirit, yet can we not say of the Holy Spirit that He is God and dove, as we say, of the Son that He is God and man; and yet it is not as we say of the Son that He is the Lamb of God, as not only has John Baptist declared, but as John the Evangelist saw the vision of the Lamb slain in the Apocalypse. For this was a prophetic vision, not put before the bodily eyes in bodily shape, but seen in the Spirit in spiritual images. But concerning this dove none ever doubted that it was seen with the bodily eye; not that we say the Spirit is a dove as we say Christ is a rock; (for that Rock was Christ.) For that Rock already existed as a creature, and from the resemblance of its operation was called by the name of Christ, (whom it figured;) not so this dove, which was created at the moment for this single purpose. It seems to me to be more like the flame which appeared to Moses in the bush, or that which the people followed in the wilderness, or to the thunderings and lightings which were when the Law was given from the mount. For all these were visible objects intended to signify something, and then to pass away. For that such forms have been from time to time seen, the Holy Spirit is said to have been sent; but these bodily forms appeared for the time to show what was required, and then ceased to be.

JEROME; It sat on the head of Jesus, that none might suppose the voice of the Father spoken to John, and not to the Lord.

17. And lo a voice from heaven, Saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

AUG. Not as before by Moses and the Prophets, neither in type or figure did the Father teach that the Son should come, but openly showed Him to be already come, This is my Son.

HILARY; Or, that from these things thus fulfilled upon Christ, we might learn that after the washing of water the Holy Spirit also descends on us from the heavenly gates, on us also is shed an unction of heavenly glory, and an adoption to be the sons of God, pronounced by the Father's voice.

JEROME; The mystery of the Trinity is shown in this baptism. The Lord is baptized; the Spirit descends in shape of a dove; the voice of the Father is heard giving testimony to the Son.

AMBROSE; Amid no wonder that the mystery of the Trinity is not wanting to the Lord's laver when even our laver contains the sacrament of the Trinity. The Lord willed to show in His own case what He was after to ordain for men.

PSEUDO-AUG. Though Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one nature, yet do you hold most firmly that They be Three Persons; that it is the Father alone who said, This is my beloved Son; the Son alone over whom that voice of the Father was heard; and the Holy Ghost alone who in the likeness of a clove descended on Christ at His baptism.

AUG. Here are deeds of the whole Trinity. In their own substance indeed Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One without interval of either place or time; but in my mouth they are three separate words, and cannot be pronounced at the same time, and in written letters they fill each their several places. By this comparison maybe understood how the Trinity in Itself indivisible may be manifested dividedly in the likeness of a visible creation. That the voice is that of the Father only is manifest from the words This is my Son.

HILARY; He witnesses that He is His Son not in name merely, but in very kindred. Sons of God are we many of us; but not as He is a Son, a proper and true Son, in verity, not in estimation, by birth, not adoption.

AUG. The Father loves the Son, but as a father should, not as a master may love a servant; and that as an own Son, not an adopted; therefore He adds, in whom I am well-pleased.

REMIG. Or if it be referred to the human nature of Christ, the sense is, I am pleased in Him, whom alone I have found without sin. Or according to another reading, It has pleased me to appoint Him, by whom to perform those things I would perform, i.e. the redemption of the human race.

AUG. These words Mark and Luke give in the same way; in the words of the voice that came from Heaven, their expression varies though the sense is the same. For both the words as Matthew gives them, This is my beloved son, and as the other two, You are my beloved Son, express the same sense in the speaker; (and the heavenly voice, no doubt, uttered one of these,) but One shows an intention of addressing the testimony thus born to the Son to those who stood by; the other of addressing it to Himself, as if speaking to Christ he had said, This is my Son. Not that Christ was taught what He knew before, but they who stood by heard it, for whose sake the voice came. Again, when one says, in whom I am well-pleased; another, in you it has pleased me, if you ask which of these was actually pronounced by that voice; take which you will, only remembering that those who have not related the same words as were spoken have related the same sense. That God is well-pleased with His Son is signified in the first; that the Father is by the Son pleased with men is conveyed in the second form, in you it has well-pleased me. Or you may understand this to have been the one meaning of all the Evangelists, In you have I put My good pleasure, i.e. to fulfill all My purpose.

Catena Aurea Matthew 3

The Baptism of Christ

Russian icon

1780

The Russian Icon Museum, Clinton, Massachusetts

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Sunday, January 12

Liturgical Color: Green

On this day in 1935, the Catechetical
Office of Pius XI issued a statement
stressing the importance of continued
catechetical teaching. It called Catholic
catechism a “voice through which Divine
Wisdom cries aloud in the streets.”

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:January 12, 2014
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

o Initial Cookies

o Kutia

o Letter banket

o Christ’s Diapers

ACTIVITIES

o Activities for the Feast of the Baptism of Christ

o Baptismal Day

o Christmas and the Eucharist

o Family and Friends of Jesus Scrapbook Album

o Making a Baptismal Garment and Candle

o On Celebrating Baptism

o Receive the White Garment

o Renewal of Baptismal Promises

o Sacramental Life in the Home: Baptism

PRAYERS

o Christmas Table Blessing 1

o Christmas Table Blessing 2

o Christmas Table Blessing 3

o Christmas Table Blessing 4

o Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Christmas Season (2nd Plan)

o To Jordan's Water

o Book of Blessings: Blessing Before and After Meals: Christmas (1st Plan)

LIBRARY

o Baptism Is Not a Formality | Pope Francis

o Baptism Is the Starting Point of a Lifelong Path to Conversion | Pope Francis

o Feast of the Baptism of the Lord | Pope Benedict XVI

· Christmas: January 12th

· Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Old Calendar: Feast of the Holy Family; First Sunday after Epiphany ; Other Titles: Feast of the Baptism of Our 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.

— Excerpted from Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

Click here for commentary on the readings in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.

Customs on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
In the Ukraine the faithful gather in the front of the church where a cross of ice is placed. Since there are no rivers near churches, a tub is filled with water and is placed in front of the ice cross. During special and very unique services the water is blessed and brought home. This is taken in before breakfast is eaten. The remains are kept during the year to keep the home safe from fire, lightening and sickness.

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.

The Nineteenth Day of Christmas

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

The mystery of Christ’s baptism in the Jordan by St John, the Precursor, proposes the contemplation of an already adult Jesus. This mystery is infinitely linked to the Solemnities of the Lord’s birth and the Epiphany that we have just celebrated, as in some ways it takes up and represents their significance to us.

At Christmas we have contemplated the human birth of the Word incarnate by the Virgin Mary. In the 4th century, the Fathers of the Church deepened the understanding of the faith with regard to the Christmas mystery in the light of Jesus’ Humanity. They spoke of the Incarnation of the Word already working like the ‘Christification’ of that humanity that he had assumed from His mother. Or put in simpler terms: Jesus is the Christ from the first instant of conception in Mary’s spotless womb because He Himself, with His Divine Power, consecrated, anointed and ‘Christified’ that human nature with which He became incarnate.

In the mystery of the Epiphany, we then meditated on Christ’s manifestation to all nations that was represented by the Magi, the wise men from the East, who came to adore the Child.

Now, in the mystery of Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan River, we again encounter and represent the truth of the Lord’s incarnation and His manifestation as the Christ. Jesus’ Baptism is in fact His definitive manifestation as the Messiah or Christ to Israel, and as the Son of the Father to the entire world. Here we find the dimension of the Epiphany which was His manifestation to all nations. The Father’s voice from heaven shows that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Son and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove shows the Trinitarian nature of the Christian God. The true and unique God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, shows Himself in Christ, through Him, with Him and in Him.

The Baptism in the Jordan returns to the great Christmas theme of ‘Christification’, Jesus of Nazareth’s spiritual anointing, His presentation as the Anointed One per excellence, the Messiah or the One sent by the Father for the salvation of mankind. The Spirit that descended on Jesus shows and seals in an incontrovertible way the ‘Christification’ of Jesus’ humanity that the Word had already fulfilled from the first moment of His miraculous conception by Mary. Jesus, from the very beginning, was always the Lord’s Christ, He was always God. Yet, His one, true humanity, that which is perfect in every way, as the Gospel records, constantly grew in natural and supernatural perfection. ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with men’ (Lk2:52). In Israel at 30 years of age, one reached full maturity and therefore could become a master. Jesus came of age and the Spirit, descending and remaining on Him, definitively consecrated His whole being as the Christ.

The same Spirit, that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation. (Gen 1:2) Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. ‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners.’ (J Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p18)

Excerpted from the Congregation for the Clergy

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Matthew 3:13-17

The Baptism of the Lord

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan. (Matthew 3:13)

It’s a big day! After thirty hidden years in Nazareth, Jesus the Messiah is on the move, going public with his mission to heal and save. As John baptizes him in the Jordan, Jesus is revealed as Savior, Suffering Servant, and “beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). Today the heavens open, the Father speaks, the Spirit descends—the whole Trinity is revealed. No wonder artists who have painted this scene tend to fill it with rays of light, glowing doves, and clouds of angels!

There’s something else going on here, though, that is harder to paint. That’s because it has to do with humility.

Consider John. Here’s a man with a clear understanding of his mission. He’s a herald preparing the way for someone “mightier” (Matthew 3:11). He is the best man and not the bridegroom. Then suddenly, the Messiah shows up, and John is taken aback. You can almost hear his mind racing, as he tries to prevent Jesus from going ahead: This can’t be what God wants! I’m not worthy. I need your baptism, not vice versa (Matthew 3:14). Yet even in his confusion, John is humble enough to grasp that God’s plan may be different from what he thinks. At a word from Jesus, he accepts a role he never sought.

And who can fathom the depths of Jesus’ humility? Consider him there, looking like just another penitent in the crowd. Out of love, the sinless One joins with sinners—with us—to show that he is truly “God with us,” even in our repentance. For the rest of his days on earth, he will continue to be one like us.

Last year, Pope Francis told a group of priests that shepherds should have “the smell of their sheep.” Jesus, mingling with the lost and needy sheep at the Jordan, shows us what that means. So never forget that whatever your “odor,” Jesus is not put off. He is, and always will be, God with you.

“Who am I, Lord, that you would offer me so much? Jesus, teach me to be like you!”

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10; Acts 10:34-38

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

(Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Psalm 29:1-4,9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17)

1. In the first reading, Isaiah prophetically speaks of the coming of Christ, the chosen servant who is pleasing to God. It also speaks of his ministry, “To open the eyes of the blind, bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” How do these works of Jesus apply to your life?

2. The responsorial psalm reminds us of our duty to God to give the Lord the glory and praise that he is due. What are the ways that you fulfill this call? Is there more you could do?

3. In the second reading from Acts, Peter speaks of the truth that “God shows no partiality.” He goes on to say that “whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” Are there people in your parish, or groups, races, religions, nations you instinctively disregard? In light of these verses, how is the Lord asking you to relate to them?

4. As a “beloved” Son, Jesus in today’s Gospel shows his obedience to the Father by fulfilling what was required of him. Through Jesus, who dwells in you, do you see yourself as a beloved son/daughter of your Father in heaven? Why or why not? What is God asking of you as a “beloved” son/daughter?

5. The meditation quotes Pope Francis as telling a group of priests that shepherds should have “the smell of their sheep.” What do you think this means? How does it apply to you?

6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to transform you more and more into his likeness. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.