“… Jesus … was baptized in the Jordan by John. … coming up out of the water He saw the Heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him. … a Voice came from the Heavens, ‘You are My Beloved Son; with You I AM well pleased.'”
Mass Readings 1.11.15 — IS 42:1-4, 6-7 or IS 55:1-11 — PS 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 or IS 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6 — ACTS 10:34-38 or 1 JN 5:1-9 — MK 1:7-11 — Find a Mass: MassTimes.org — Find a Mass: TheCatholicDirectory.com
Links & Resources
- The Solemnity of Our Lord’s Baptism – Fr. Steve Grunow, Word on Fire
- Wading in the Troubled Water Saves You, Not Taking a Bridge Over It – A Homily for the Baptism of the Lord – Msgr. Charles Pope, Archdiocese of Washington
- The Anointing: The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord – Scott Hahn
- Feast of the Baptism of the Lord – Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas, excerpted by CatholicCulture.org
- The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ – fisheaters.com
Gospel
Jesus, serving as an example for the rest of us, appears before John the Baptist in the River Jordan to be Baptized. Of course, Jesus has no need of Baptism, because He is without sin, and without original sin.
Yet, when Jesus humbles Himself to provide an example to the rest of us, He ends up being Baptized by God the Father, through the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus.
We recall also that the Holy Spirit is the Mutual Love of the Father for the Son and the Son for the Father, so that, in effect, God the Father Baptizes Jesus with His Love.
Already prior to this, John had heralded the arrival of the Messiah, saying that one greater than him would come:
… 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. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
Jesus later travels from Nazareth to find John in the Jordan. When He provides us an example to follow, by being Baptized by John, the Heavens open. We hear the Voice of God the Father declaring that Jesus is His Beloved Son, in Whom He is well pleased. The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus like a dove.
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 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 Son; with You I AM well pleased.’
Responsorial Psalm
The Lord will bless His People with Peace.
OR
PSALM: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6
You will draw water joyfully from the Springs of Salvation
First Reading
FIRST READING: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
The Prophet Isaiah foreshadows the events of the Baptism of Christ, when he speaks of God referring to “My Chosen One with Whom I AM pleased,” Words that God the Father will speak of Christ when Jesus is Baptized. In addition, God speaks of putting His Spirit on the Chosen One, something that will happen when the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus like a dove at the Baptism of Christ.
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 …
Later God speaks of the Mission of the Messiah, to open the eyes of those who do not see, free captives, and bring light where there is darkness.
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.
Jesus, of course, as His first act of public Ministry, will read this from the scroll of Isaiah, then explain that the passage is fulfilled with Him reading it, implicitly that it is fulfilled by His Arrival.
OR
The Prophet Isaiah explains that God Calls us to answer His Invitation, and to likewise call on Him while He is near.
As sinners we are called to convert our hearts, leave our sinful ways and turn to a Merciful God …
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!* * *
Seek the LORD while He may be found,
call Him while He is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for Mercy …For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth …
… so shall My Word be
that goes forth from My Mouth …
… achieving the end for which I sent it.
God sends out His Word to do His Will. God’s very Word Created all Reality, including us, and our True Life is in Him.
Recall also that God’s Word is Alive, and so Alive that It is a Person. Jesus is the Word of God Made Flesh. God sends out His Word, and that includes Sending His Son.
Second Reading
SECOND READING: Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38
Peter proceeded to speak … ‘In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. … in every nation whoever fears Him and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him. … 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.”
OR
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. In this way we know that we love the Children of God when we love God and obey His Commandments. For the Love of God is this, that we keep His Commandments. ….
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. …
More Resources
