·
The
celebration of the Baptism of the Lord belongs to the Christmas Season,
·
The
baptism of the Lord is an epiphany, a manifestation of the Lord . In the Jordan
river the three divine Persons are present.
THE BOOK
OF THE DEUTERO-ISAIAH
«
The
first Reading is taken from this book, which is also called the Book of
Consolation.
«
The
author of the book does not emphasize as much the sin of the people as the merciful
and gratuitous love of God for the people, love that saves.
«
The
book is written having in mind the Exodus.
«
The
author does not emphasize so much the duty to imitate God, as the generous love
of God that will awaken in men and women the desire to
love God and to be like God.
FIRST READING Is
40:1-5;9-11
Ø
Comfort
my people, says the Lord, say tender words to them, because her service is at
an end and her guilt expiated. Like
the soldier who has serve his/her time and is allowed to return home.
Ø
A
voice cries out in the desert, and invites to prepare the way. The way for the
Lord, but also the way that the Lord prepares for his people for its
return.
Ø
The
glory of God is revealed in the return of the people, and in his tender love.
Ø
We
are also invited to cry out, at the top of our voice, the good news and say : the Lord comes, the Lord is already here among us.
Ø The
good news that
o
The
Lord as a good shepherd carries the lambs in his arms and takes care of the
mothers.
o
The
Lord comes with power to save therefore “do not fear.”
Ø
We
are invited to experience the joy of freedom, and of a new relationship with
God.
RESPONSORIAL
PSALM – Ps 104
BLESS THE LORD MY SOUL
Psalm
104 is a psalm of creation.
Everything
becomes alive when God is present; everything is in his hands; and everything
is darkness when we go away from him.
This
psalm invites us to reflect on the wonders God continues to make, the wonders
of creation and of salvation.
SECOND READING – Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7.
ü
Jesus
is the revelation, the epiphany of God among us.
ü
He
is the image of the Father, in Him the glory of God is made visible to us.
ü
The
glory of God is made visible in our salvation, in the opportunity that God
gives us to live according to his will.
ü
His
kindness and his love toward men/women has been manifested in our new birth
(baptism) and in the outpouring of the Spirit (confirmation).
ü
Thus
making us heirs of eternal life.
GOSPEL
LK 3:15-16; 21-22
§
The
passage of the Gospel according to Luke, that we will read, has two parts:
o
In
the first one John addresses the people and tells them that he is not the
Messiah
o
In
the second Jesus is baptized
§ In the
first part
o
Luke
tells us that the people ask themselves if
John is the Messiah
o
And
John assures them, that he is not, that there is one greater and stronger than
him
o
And
that he(John) considers himself unworthy
to untie his sandals.
o
John
says that he baptizes them with water, but the one who comes after him will
baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire.
§ In the
second part
o
Jesus,
like all the other men, has been
baptized by John
o
But
now the Father will reveal to us who is that man that has been baptized in the
Jordan
o
The
Spirit makes himself visible in the form of a dove
o
And
the Father speaks to Jesus: YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON, WITH YOU I AM WELL
PLEASED.
o
The
Most Holy Trinity is present and visible at the Jordan: Father (voice) Son
(Jesus) Holy Spiriti (dove).
§ Jesus
o
He
had, since his childhood a very peculiar relationship with God whom he called
Abba (daddy).
o
When
he was a teenager he felt the need to stay in the temple, to be close to his
“Abba”
o
As
an adult we find him praying in solitude with his “Abba”.
o
The
sacred authors do not say anything more about Jesus feelings toward his
God and Father, but I like to think that
§
Probably
Jesus was asking himself about his
mission, about the will of the Father over him, and
§
the
Father answers him calling him “My beloved Son” He is the happiness of the
Father.
§
What
did he experience when the Father spoke to Him? Maybe we may try to understand
this looking at our personal experience of God.
When He is present everything is light, colorful, peace and happiness
fill us.
After the baptism of the Lord, Luke
puts the genealogy of Jesus
·
As
saying to us that Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father, is a member of our
human family,
·
The
genealogy is followed by the temptations of the Lord. It seems as if Luke wants
us to realize that Jesus is really member of human family, that He experiences
also our temptations
·
And
after the temptations Jesus is ready to begin his mission of preaching the good
news.
|
St. Anthony Mary Claret. Founder of the Claretian Missionary Sisters. Autobiography 400.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
CLARET,
Antonio María. Autobiografía.
JENSEN, JOSEPH. Ethical Dimensions
of the Prophets. Liturgical Press, Collegeville 2006.
PAGOLA,
José A. Following in the Footsteps of
Jesus. Convivum Press 2012.
PARIS, María Antonia. Autobiografía.
RAVASSI, GIANFRANCO. Según las
Escrituras , Año C. San Pablo,
Bogotá 2006.
SCHÖKEL , Luis Alonso, La Biblia de
nuestro Pueblo.
.
|
In this year, 1854, our Lord gave me a
continuous communication with his Divine Majesty that it seems that a
creature would not be able to live in this miserable life with such intimate
communication with God. I do not know if I would be able to explain how it
was. It seems that our Lord had my soul inside in the most sacred of his
heart, and there he was communicating his eternal dispositions, with so much
grace and love, like a best friend treat his equal; and if these two friends
have not seen each other for so long, they
have many things to tell each other; and they need time to talk alone.
It seems that our Lord would look for hidden moments to talk to my soul; and
enjoy with it in intimate communication. I do not know if I am saying
nonsense, but there is nothing that can compare how our Lord treated my soul
with such love and familiarity during that time.
. María Antonia París, Foundress of the
Claretian Missionary Sisters. Autobiography
48.
|
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