January 12, 2014

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Lectionary: 21
Reading 1 IS 42:1-4, 6-7

Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

This is a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, from the Holy Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Responsorial Psalm PS 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

R/ (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.

R/ The Lord will bless his people with peace.
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.

R/ The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R/ The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Praise God all of you who love God!  Praise His Holy name.  For He has done wonderful things for you.  

Reading 2 ACTS 10:34-38

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”

This is a beautiful account of the Just Centurion named Cornelius.  He and his entire cohort of one hundred Roman soldiers were baptized in the Holy Spirit apart from the waters of Baptism.  St. Peter was sent to them in order that they might be baptized by water and thus be admitted into the Church.  

This is a sign to us, that we should not diminish the power of God by refusing to acknowledge that men may become holy and righteous outside the Church.  The Holy Spirit of God is not bridled by human beings.  As the Catechism explains, "CCC#1257 God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments."

Gospel MT 3:13-17

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?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”

How does this fulfill all righteousness?  From long ago, earthly Kings have put themselves above the law.  But Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, submitted to the Law of Moses and was circumcised on the 8th day.  Then, when God required Baptism, He submitted to it although He had never sinned.  God of the universe, the Son of Man, submitted to and fulfilled all the laws which bound men.

Then he allowed him.
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.”

And God the Father showed His pleasure in seeing the humility of the only begotten Son, who emptied Himself of Divinity to walk amongst His creatures.