January 8, 2018

Jesus' Baptism

January 8, 2018:  Baptism of the Lord

Can you find about 30 connections with today?
Legend below
Listen

    For Psalm 29
    Pope Francis
    To diplomatic corps on the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights anniversary:  The Gospel and the recognition of human rights are closely related.  Relations between nations, like all human relationships, must be harmonized in accordance with the dictates of truth, justice, cooperation, and freedom.  It's painful to see how fundamental rights are still violated:  children discarded before they're born, the elderly cast aside, women who suffer from violence and oppression.  Policies must be adopted to support the family, on which the future and the development of states depend.  The ability to leave your country and return there is a fundamental human right.  The right to employment is so important; there can be no peace or development if individuals can't contribute to the common good through their labor.  I'm especially concerned about the increase in child laborers.  Cultivate a spirit of service to humanity and intergenerational solidarity, and be a sign of hope.
    Ordinary Time homily (since they celebrated Jesus' baptism yesterday):  Samuel's father, Elkanah, had two wives: Hannah, who was barren, and Peninnah, who had borne him several children.  Instead of consoling Hannah, Peninnah scorned and humiliated her.  Many other Biblical stories tell of scorn towards the weak, as does the story of Abraham’s wives, Hagar and Sarah.  The same attitude occurs between men, as Goliath ridiculed David.  Job's and Tobias’ wives belittled their suffering husbands.

     What makes us mock and mistreat people weaker than we are?  It even happens among children; we see it today in bullying, attacking the weak, foreign, or black....  Something in us makes us act aggressively toward the weak.  I believe it's a consequence of Original Sin, the work of Satan, who has no compassion.  When we have a good desire to do a good act, like an act of charity, it’s the Holy Spirit's inspiration.  When we realize we harbor a desire to attack a weaker person, it's the devil's.  Attacking the weak is the work of Satan.  Lord, you who have compassion on us and help us to move forward, give us the grace of compassion. 
    Read
    • Is 42:1-4, 6-7  Here's my servant; he'll bring justice.  I, the Lord, called you, grasped you, formed you, and set you as light for all, to open the eyes of the blind and to release prisoners and those in darkness.
    • Is 55:1-11  Come to the water, eat, and drink, without cost.  Come, heed, listen, and live.  I'll renew the everlasting covenant.  Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he's near.  Turn to the Lord for mercy.  For my thoughts and ways are not yours.  For just as rain and snow don't return till they water the earth, making it fruitful, my word shall not return to me void but shall do my will.
      Wordle: Readings 1-11-15
    • Ps 29:1-4, 9-10  "The Lord will bless his people with peace."  Give the Lord glory; adore him in holy attire.  The mighty, majestic voice of the Lord is over the waters.  The Lord is king forever.
    • Is 12:2-4bcd, 5-6  "You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation."  God is my savior, strength, and courage.  Shout with exultation, for great in your midst is the Holy One!
    • 1 Jn 5:1-9  If you believe Jesus is the Christ, you're begotten by God and conquer the world through faith.  When we love God and obey his commandments, we know we love God's children.  The Spirit of truth, the water, and the blood all testify...
    • Acts 10:34-38  Peter: God shows no partiality; he accepts all who fear him and act uprightly.  God anointed Jesus with the Spirit and power; Jesus did good and healed the oppressed.
    • Mk 1:7-11  John the Baptist:  “One mightier is coming after me; I'm not worthy to loosen his sandals.  I baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John.  He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending upon him.  A voice came from the heavens:  “You are my beloved Son; with you I am pleased.”
    Reflect
    • Creighton:  Today we celebrate Jesus' and our baptisms and listen to God.  God sent us to carry his message of love, to bring light and love to the blind, the imprisoned, and those in darkness, to bring justice to the poor and the oppressed.  At our baptism, we (or our godparents) answered:  What are you looking for?  (Faith) and What does faith hold out for you?  (Everlasting life).  The joy of everlasting life comes as we renounce sin, but often we're attracted to the riches, honor, and pride that keep us from hearing God.  In today's gospel, Jesus comes to be baptized, and all hear God tell him, “You are my beloved son…”  God thunders the same to us, but we don't hear it if we're under water, focused on ourselves and our sin.  Once we surface and listen, we hear God's loving voice....
    • One Bread, One Body:  "He came to the water":  John the Baptist baptized thousands with his baptism of repentance (metanoia), a 180° turn from sin.  Symbolically, the sins they left behind stayed in the waters of the Jordan, after the people emerged.  Sinless Jesus had no need of baptism, but he told John to baptize him for the sake of righteousness.  John didn't understand that Jesus took on the sins "left behind" in the water.  Jesus is present in the waters of Baptism.  When we're baptized, Jesus has already entered that water to take all our sins upon His shoulders, to pay the price for all sins, including ours, on the cross.
      Baptism of Christ/ Ghirlandaio
      (More Jesus' baptism art)
    • Passionist:  In today’s readings Jesus' "cousin" John introduces him to the world, and God affirms what Jesus has become and is to do.  The 1st reading amplifies the gospel's significance:  Jesus is God’s servant, God's “chosen one" to "bring forth justice to the nations."  Jesus sees those traits as part of his own mission.  While we can say with John that we're unworthy, we're still chosen to be his disciples.  God loves us; we're precious to him.  We're formed in his image and his emissary.  We're to be a light for the nations, to bring sight to others, help them see the truth.  We're to free people from their inner prisons.  Our words can forgive, encourage, or give hope.  We're to liberate those in darkness.  A mere visit can lift someone from sadness or darkness.  May we reach out to others and be disciples the Lord is pleased with.
    • DailyScripture.net:  Jesus' humble submission to baptism foreshadowed the "baptism" of his death on the cross.  Sinless, he allowed himself to be numbered among sinners and submitted to his Father's will.  His baptism is the acceptance and beginning of his mission as God's suffering Servant.  The Father proclaimed his delight.  The Spirit anointed Jesus for his ministry.  The heavens were opened and the waters sanctified, signifying the beginning of a new creation.  "Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him" (Gregory Nazianzen).  Ask the Spirit to give you Jesus' humility.  The Lord anoints us for mission as ambassadors of his kingdom of justice, peace, and joy, to be salt and light that radiate his mercy and goodness.  He wants his love and truth to shine through us that many may find life, freedom, and joy in the Spirit....
    • Trumped saint, from Universalis:  St. Nathalan (Nachlan, Nauchlan), bishop, distributed his harvest to the poor.
    Dress legend
    • 'Snowmen' tie:  As... snow doesn't return till it's watered the earth, so does God's word not return empty (Is 55); Christmas season
    • 'Hand' tie pin:  I have grasped you by the hand (Is 42)
    • 'Street light' tie bar:  I set you as a light for the nations... (Is 42)
    • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  ...to open the eyes of the blind (Is 42)
    • 'Money bag' pin:  Why spend your money for what is not bread, that doesn't satisfy? (Is 55)
    • 'Boundless mercy' button:  Turn to the Lord for mercy (Is 55)
    • 'Cow' pin:  Drink milk! (Is 55)
    • 'Phone' tie bar:  Call the Lord while he's near (Is 55)
    • 'Dove' pin, 'blood drop' pin, blue in shirt:  Spirit, water, blood all testify... (1 Jn)
    • 'Thunderbolt' pin:  The God of glory thunders (Ps 29)
    • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  The Lord will bless his people with peace (Ps 29); God proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ (Acts 10)
    • 'Crown' tie bar:  The Lord is enthroned as king forever (Ps 29)
    • 'Dove' pin:  I've put my spirit on my servant (Is 42); God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10); he'll baptize you with the Spirit; Spirit descended on Jesus (gospel)
    • 'Heart' pin:  Love God (1 Jn); The people were asking in their hearts whether John was the Messiah (gospel)
    • 'Musical notes with "joy"' pin:  With joy you'll draw water at the fountain of salvation (Is 12)
    • Blue and white shirt:  Blue: The Lord's voice is over the waters (Ps 29); Come to the water! (Is 55); you'll draw water from the springs of salvation (Is 12); I've baptized you with water (gospel); white for liturgical color of today
    • 'Star' tie pin:  Yesterday's Epiphany celebration; Epiphanytide is shortest ever this year, though there are other (unofficial) ways to delineate it.
    • 'Noël' button:  Christmas season ends today
    • Sandals (not shown):  John:  I'm not worthy to loosen his sandals (gospel)
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