Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. – 1 John 5:3-4

       When you were being taught to brush your teeth every day, I bet your parents told you that you’d get cavities if you didn’t. When you were told to take your yucky vitamins, they told you it would keep you strong. When you had your shots, they told you the painful prick would protect you from illnesses.

       They say an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. So when my daughter complains about the things I impose on her, I explain that her safety and health are my goals, and she finds it easier to comply.

       It’s the same with us and God. We are His children, and He has given us His commands not to burden us but to show us the way to a healthy life. Often, the world’s ways are easier to follow. We are faced with painful choices to make, but we must remember that the difficulty of any of His commands cannot outweigh the blessing that comes with our obedience.

      Today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, let us reflect on Jesus’ humility and submission to the Father. We, too, can fulfill our baptismal calling to live in obedience every day as true children of God. Geraldine Gabriel Catral (catral.geegee@beaconschool.ph)

Reflect: Do we show our love for God by our obedience to Him even when it is difficult?

Dearest Lord, thank You for Your commands. May they guide and lead me to a victorious life. Amen.

St. Angela of Foligno, pray for us.

Some of the prophecies of Isaiah capture the truth of the person of Jesus in an uncanny way that is only possible if God has a hand in them. We either believe or do not believe that God intervenes in our lives. Definitely He has intervened in my life to get me to where I am now. He did not force my will but rather seduced me with His love and promises.

1 Thus says the Lord: All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! 2 Why spend your money for what is not bread, your wages for what fails to satisfy? Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. 3 Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David. 4 As I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of nations, 5 so shall you summon a nation you knew not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you. 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near. 7 Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; let him turn to the Lord for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9 As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts. 10 For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to the one who eats, 11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

R: You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

2 God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. 3 With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. (R) 4 Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. (R) 5 Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. 6 Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! (R)

The commandments of God are not burdensome but the world presents the commandments differently. The morality taught by the Church is the source of life and not a heavy load for us to carry. Do we want to live in the truth or be mired in sin? We cannot have it both ways. When we choose the grace of baptism, we choose discipleship – following Jesus – as our way of life.

1 Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him. 2 In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. 5 Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one who testifies, and the Spirit is truth. 7 So there are three that testify, 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord. 9 If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son.

John the Baptist got it right when he proclaimed that Jesus is more important than him or any of us. Jesus is the Master, leader and role model. He is the commander. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Son of God. Whatever title we give Jesus, He is always number one in our lives.

John saw Jesus approaching him, and said: Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

7 This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

think: What lessons in humility and dying to oneself can we learn from John the Baptist?

Read the Bible in one year Luke 22-24

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________

THE BEGINNING

In the early 70s, there was a popular song by Andy Williams titled “Love Story,” whose opening lines I still recall: “Where do I begin / To tell the story of how great a love can be / The sweet love story that is older than the sea / The simple truth about the love she brings to me / Where do I start?” The tune captivated me even if I didn’t really understand its lyrics. As I prayed over today’s Gospel, I remembered that song because, somehow, I have found the answer to Andy Williams’s questions:“Where do I begin?” and “Where do I start?” And the answer is Jesus Christ!

       Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ. St. Mark starts his Gospel account with the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. For him, the beginning of the Gospel is the baptism of the Lord. After all, Jesus Christ is the Gospel Himself. Notice the brevity of St. Mark in telling us this story without losing its charm and symbolisms: “On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, ‘You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased’”(Mark 1:10-11, NIV).

       Jordan River is in a valley bounded by mountains. It speaks so well of the coming of Jesus Christ. Most of all, in His baptism, Jesus immersed Himself in the waters in solidarity with us sinners though He is sinless. God sent us His only beloved Son Jesus Christ to join us in our humanity, so that in His resurrection we could be one with Him in His triumph and glory. In His baptism, Jesus became like us humans except in sin; in His resurrection, we became like Jesus, the beloved Child of God with whom He is well pleased.

       As we start this week, let us remember to begin each day with Jesus, in Jesus. Let’s start anew from a past filled with sin and defeats, for each day is a new beginning with the Lord, in the Lord. Fr. Nick Lalog

------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

How do you begin your day?

Jesus Christ, so many times I forget my own baptism, my own solidarity with You as my Brother in God our Father, as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for this gift of being a beloved child of God with whom He is well pleased. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________