The Baptism of the Lord (Cycle B, Year I)
Community Word: Jesus is the guiding Star in our journey of faith.
Theme: We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we strive to please God by showing no partiality and acting uprightly.
Promise: “Upon whom I have put my Spirit, he shall bring forth justice to the nations.” (Is 42:1b)
Reflection:
Baptism represents a new beginning, an entry point towards a new life in Christ. As it entails purification and cleansing, it should transform a person into a new creation different from what he used to be. Being baptized as a Christian is easy, but living as one is a constant struggle. He ought to live up to his baptismal promises as he strives to know and grow more in his faith. “For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism” (CCC: 1254).
The baptism of our Lord Jesus marks the beginning of His public life. Being God Himself, He did not have to be baptized. But He asked to be baptized because He wants to fulfill God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Jesus, although without any sin, identified Himself totally with the sinful humanity thus giving us a marvelous example of His deep humility and self-emptying, a virtue that He lived consistently. “I have come from heaven,” He said, “not to do my own will, but to do the will of the One who sent me,” (Jn 6:38). He emphasized He comes in the name of God and to be baptized with John’s baptism of repentance for sinners so that offenders may be transformed by Him who, as John the Baptist introduces, is “the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,” (Jn 1:29). During Jesus’ ministry of praying, preaching, healing, casting out bad spirits, and inviting disciples, He remained faithful, obedient and subservient to the will of the Father at all times.
Our baptism and renewal experience during the Life in the Spirit Seminar marks the beginning of our awareness of totally accepting God into our new life. And as we immerse and grow in community life, we became more conscious of the way we should live and conduct ourselves as Christians. We aspire to please God and be like Jesus in every way. We bear witness only to Christ and not to ourselves. It is imperative that every time we give testimony, we share God’s overwhelming presence in our life, how He touched and moved our lives, consciously forgetting our own priorities and achievements. The Community Word for the month of January aptly states, “Jesus is the Guiding Star in our journey of faith.”
To be called children of God is truly overwhelming. This is who we are when we receive the sacrament of Baptism in faith, and then professing this faith boldly at all times. What the Father did for His Son, Jesus, at His baptism is precisely what God gives us in our own baptism – the gift of the Spirit and the public acknowledgement that we are His children. If this is the way we are honored by God, then we have the duty to obey Him and do His will. Only then can we enjoy a foretaste of eternal glory, which we have a right to inherit after we are baptized.
The Theme for the week states: “We are guided by the Star in our journey of faith when we strive to please God by showing no partiality and acting uprightly.” God’s gift of salvation to man came unconditionally through Christ. Just as He accepted us back with no partiality, we are also called upon to treat one another with equality and to respect the dignity of the other person. We must live together in harmony and friendship, serving without seeking honor and entitlements, forgiving and understanding of our neighbor’s limitations. As we journey towards God in faith and hope, we reach out to our brothers and sisters so that they too will strive to please God in their ways.
Jesus was pleasing to the Father by His very act of humility and obedience of becoming the ‘Suffering Servant” who accepted and endured everything for our sake. Thus, God was pleased with Jesus by affirming that He is His beloved Son. In the same way, we can honor God by our small acts of humility and sincerity of heart. Then, God will be pleased with us if, like Jesus, our one and only desire is to do His holy Will.
Prayer:
We thank You, dear Father, for making us Your beloved children. May we be always conscious of this grace by living our daily life in accord with Your Will. May we be like Jesus, as the promoter of peace, goodwill and justice among His people. Guide us and help us be worthy to claim Your promise: “Upon whom I have put my spirit, he shall bring forth justice to the nations.” This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can I give Christian dignity to my baptismal promises?
2. How faithful have I been to my BLD commitment / covenant pledges?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
January 11, 2015 (Sun) Is 42:1-4,6-7/Ps 29:1-2,3-4,3,9-10/Acts 10:34-38/Mk 1:7-11
January 12, 2015 (Mon) Heb 1:1-6/Ps 97:1,2,6,7,9/Mk 1:14-20
January 13, 2015 (Tues) Heb 2:5-12/Ps 8:2,5,6-7,8-9/Mk 1:21-28
January 14, 2015 (Wed) Heb 2:14-18/Ps 105:1-2,3-4,6-7,8-9/Mk 1:29-39
January 15, 2015 (Thurs) Heb 3:7-14/Ps 95:6-7,8-9,10-11/Mk 1:40-45
January 16, 2015 (Fri) Heb 4:1-5,11/Ps 78:3,4,6-7,8/Mk 2:1-12
January 17, 2015 (Sat) Heb 4:12-16/Ps 19:8,9,10,15/Mk 2:13-17
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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