Tag: Baptism of the Lord

“Come after me.” | Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. Let all his angels worship him.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 1:14-20)

Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Mark relates in just a few words the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry as he picks up the proclamation of the Gospel after John is arrested. Sounding very much like John, Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” But he says something else, which foreshadows his earthly ministry. “This is the time of fulfillment.” It is with this authority that Jesus calls the first disciples to follow him. And they do. Immediately, they leave their nets behind—the ones they are casting and the ones they are mending. Jesus calls them from the midst of their work; they hear his voice and obey. In what ways—in the midst of the work week—how attentively will we listen out for the voice of the Lord?

Father in heaven, you sent Jesus to proclaim your kingdom and to bring hope and salvation to all people. Like Simon and Andrew and James and John, let me be attentive to your call and follow you at work and at rest. This is your Son, the one you love and in whom you are well pleased. Give me the grace, Lord, to see the love between you and your Son and the invitation by the Son to imitate him in perfectly accomplishing your will. Lord, let me hear and follow as you ask me to come after you. Jesus, I trust in you!

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.

“You are my beloved Son.” | The Baptism of the Lord

From the responsorial psalm: “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. The Lord will bless his people with peace.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)

After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The people are filled with excitement and expectation about John the Baptist and asking themselves if he might be the Messiah. John responds by making clear that his baptism is with water but that there is one mightier coming after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. After being baptized by John and as Jesus is praying, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends upon him in a form like a dove. The voice from heaven is that of the Father who is well pleased in his beloved Son. In the second reading, we hear that God anointed his Son with the Holy Spirit and power. And as prophesied by Isaiah, the LORD is well pleased in his servant, Jesus, the incarnation of the New Covenant. “I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand.”

God, help me throughout the day be aware that you are present as I dwell on the baptism of your only begotten Son. In meditating on your love for Jesus, I think also of the love Zechariah had for his son John, who says of him in his canticle: “You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High.” In the powerful, affirming love of a father for a son is a glimpse of your filial love for us as your children. Christ accomplished in his baptism the forgiveness of our sins and the way to eternal life as your sons and daughters. In calling your Son for the victory of justice, you have freed us and opened the heavens so that we always give to you the glory due your name. “Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise.”

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.

The Baptism of the Lord

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Today’s reading, heard recently in a weekday reading from the Gospel according to Mark, relates the baptism of Jesus. Both Evangelists say that the voice of God came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” In the first reading from Isaiah, God speaks the same words: “Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased.” Describing the servant that the New Testament identifies as Christ, Isaiah says: “I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand.” I can’t read this without recognizing that as God speaks about his Son as the model servant of servants, by doing that he also calls those who hear his voice to be the servant.

God the Father, you are well pleased with your Son as he is baptized. Give me all the grace needed so that you are well pleased with me also through the action of the Holy Spirit. I want to understand your will for me today and have the courage to carry it out. The words “grasp me by the hand” call to mind the image of a guide and savior, which is the very nature of your Son through the sacraments of the Church. Baptism, which removes original sin and configures me to Christ; Confirmation, the gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthening me as a servant; Reconciliation, grasping me from the pit of sin and despair; the Eucharist, which grasps me interiorly with the saving body and blood of Christ. And so on. With each sacrament, Lord, you grasp me by the hand.

Father in heaven, Lord above all, look down on me as I strive to find my identity in recognizing what you have called me for. Give me the grace to hear your voice. All glory to you, God, as we hear in the Responsorial Psalm: “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.” 

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.

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