Feast of the Baptism of the Lord(Cycle C, Year II)
Community Word: Those who diligently search Jesus will find joy in the Light of God.
Theme: We find joy in the Light of God when our way of life is renewed by the Holy Spirit.
Promise: “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.”(Is 40:5)
Reflection:
This Sunday’s Feast of the Baptism of our Lord reminds us of our own baptism. However, Jesus is sinless, so His baptism is not the same as ours. In our case, when water is poured upon our forehead, it symbolizes cleansing from original sin. We then receive the Holy Spirit and become members of His church, united with Jesus in love. We also receive the transforming grace that comes with baptism, drawing us to deeper into Christian commitment – a renewed life of Christian discipleship.
The demands of contemporary life lure us into earthly attachments. Instead of allowing the Word of God to rule our minds and empower us with the Spirit of Truth, we allow worldly thoughts to dominate our life, sometimes even turning our backs upon God and His call to righteousness.
In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul advises us as children of our heavenly Father, not to be “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God,” (Romans 12:2). We need to stand firm, first in our disciplined thinking – to know, love and glorify the Lord and then in our disciplined lifestyle – to obey and serve Him. The spiritual gift within us is God-given, holy and perfect. We lack nothing spiritually, but God never overrides our freedom of will. Controlling our thoughts, renewing our lives and getting back into the Light – when we find ourselves straying away from It – is our responsibility.
It is our task to put on the “new man”, renewed in knowledge after the image and likeness of the One who created us, as we put off the “old man” in us, which is corrupted by deceitful lust and concupiscence. Our human spirit should be united with that of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, because a Christian disciple like us cannot know anything, be somebody, or possess something without union with the person of Jesus, because “…you are complete in Him,” (Colossians 2:10). In Christ, we find all things that God has for us.
The real key to renewing our lives is to present ourselves as living sacrifice to God and to allow Him to put his Spirit into us. Only as we find the inspiration and the will to work with Jesus in accomplishing His mission of bringing the reign of God upon the earth, can we become instruments of justice, peace, love, consolation and joy, described by the prophet Isaiah thus: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations,” (Is 42:1).
As members of BLD, we are called to let the light of God radiate and shine brightly within our community, reaching every spirit that is still in darkness. We are called to be fully involved in a life of brotherly love, especially in times of need that the bells of love may ring, bringing forth the joy and glory of the Lord to lonely hearts. Thus, we help bring to reality of this week’s promise – “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together,” (Is40:5).
Prayer:
O Holy Spirit of light and love, clarify my mind and understanding that I may always be obedient to Your heavenly inspirations, and my heart may be inflamed with love for God and my neighbor. May my will be constantly conformed to Your divine plan, and my life be ever committed to faithfully following the life and virtues of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that I may give all the honor and glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Reflection Question:
1. What are the struggles you face as you allow the Holy Spirit to completely transform you into a “new man?”
2. How do you respond to the call of community to be part of bringing the Light of God to others? What prevents you from joining mission activities?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
January 10, 2016 (Sun) Is 40:1-5,9-11/Ps 104:1-4,24-25,27-30/Ti2:11-14;3:4-7/Lk 3:15-16,21-22
January 11, 2016 (Mon) 1Sm 1:1-8/Ps 116:12-13,14-17,18-19/Mk 1:14-20
January 12, 2016 (Tue) 1Sm 1:9-20/1Sm 2:1,4-5,6-7,8/Mk 1:21-28
January 13, 2016 (Wed) 1Sm 3:1-10,19-20/Ps 40:2,5,7-8,8,9,10/Mk 1:29-39
January 14, 2016 (Thu) 1Sm 4:1-11/Ps 44:10-11,14-15,24-25/Mk 1:40-45
January 15, 2016 (Fri) 1Sm 8:4-7,10-22/Ps 89:16-17,18-19/Mk 2:1-12
January 16, 2016 (Sat) 1Sm 9:1-4,17-19,10:1/Ps 21:2-3,4-5,6-7,Mk 2:13-17
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
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