Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word Among Us” Sunday, 12 January
2014
Meditation: Matthew 3: The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be
baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be
so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then
he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the
water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said,
“This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 3:17 Or my beloved Son
The Baptism of the Lord
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan. (Matthew 3:13)
It’s a big day! After thirty hidden years in Nazareth, Jesus the
Messiah is on the move, going public with his mission to heal and save. As John
baptizes him in the Jordan, Jesus is revealed as Savior, Suffering Servant, and
“beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). Today the heavens open, the Father speaks, the
Spirit descends—the whole Trinity is revealed. No wonder artists who have painted
this scene tend to fill it with rays of light, glowing doves, and clouds of
angels!
There’s something else going on here, though, that is harder to
paint. That’s because it has to do with humility.
Consider John. Here’s a man with a clear understanding of his
mission. He’s a herald preparing the way for someone “mightier” (Matthew 3:11).
He is the best man and not the bridegroom. Then suddenly, the Messiah shows up,
and John is taken aback. You can almost hear his mind racing, as he tries to
prevent Jesus from going ahead: This can’t be what God wants! I’m not worthy. I
need your baptism, not vice versa (Matthew 3:14). Yet even in his confusion,
John is humble enough to grasp that God’s plan may be different from what he
thinks. At a word from Jesus, he accepts a role he never sought.
And who can fathom the depths of Jesus’ humility? Consider him
there, looking like just another penitent in the crowd. Out of love, the
sinless One joins with sinners—with us—to show that he is truly “God with us,”
even in our repentance. For the rest of his days on earth, he will continue to
be one like us.
Last year, Pope Francis told a group of priests that shepherds
should have “the smell of their sheep.” Jesus, mingling with the lost and needy
sheep at the Jordan, shows us what that means. So never forget that whatever
your “odor,” Jesus is not put off. He is, and always will be, God with you.
“Who am I, Lord, that you would offer me so much? Jesus, teach
me to be like you!” Amen!
Isaiah The Servant, a Light to the Nations
42: Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my
soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth
justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in
the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning
wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully
bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has
established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands
wait for his teaching.
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by
the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,[a]
a light to the
nations,
7 to open the eyes
that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those
who sit in darkness.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 42:6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Psalm 29: The Voice of God in a Great Storm
A Psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[a]
ascribe to the Lord
glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in
holy splendor.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory
thunders,
the Lord, over mighty
waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is
full of majesty.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 29:1 Heb
sons of gods
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,[a]
and strips the forest
bare;
and in his temple all
say, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits
enthroned as king forever.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 29:9 Or causes the deer to calve
Acts 10: Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that
God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does
what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the
people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That
message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by
the devil, for God was with him.
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
(Isaiah The Servant, a Light to the Nations
42: Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my
soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth
justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in
the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning
wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully
bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has
established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands
wait for his teaching.
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by
the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,[a]
a light to the
nations,
7 to open the eyes
that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those
who sit in darkness.
Footnotes:
a. Isaiah 42:6 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Psalm 29: The Voice of God in a Great Storm
A Psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[a]
ascribe to the Lord
glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in
holy splendor.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory
thunders,
the Lord, over mighty
waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord
is full of majesty.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 29:1 Heb sons of
gods
9 The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,[a]
and strips the forest
bare;
and in his temple all
say, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits
enthroned as king forever.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 29:9 Or causes the deer to calve
Acts 10: Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that
God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does
what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the
people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37 That
message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and
with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by
the devil, for God was with him.
Matthew 3: The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be
baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be
so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then
he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the
water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said,
“This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”
Footnotes:
a. Matthew 3:17 Or my beloved Son)
1. In the first reading, Isaiah prophetically speaks of the
coming of Christ, the chosen servant who is pleasing to God. It also speaks of
his ministry, “To open the eyes of the blind, bring out prisoners from
confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” How do these
works of Jesus apply to your life?
2. The responsorial psalm reminds us of our duty to God to give
the Lord the glory and praise that he is due. What are the ways that you
fulfill this call? Is there more you could do?
3. In the second reading from Acts, Peter speaks of the truth
that “God shows no partiality.” He goes on to say that “whoever fears him and
acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” Are there people in your parish, or
groups, races, religions, nations you instinctively disregard? In light of
these verses, how is the Lord asking you to relate to them?
4. As a “beloved” Son, Jesus in today’s Gospel shows his
obedience to the Father by fulfilling what was required of him. Through Jesus,
who dwells in you, do you see yourself as a beloved son/daughter of your Father
in heaven? Why or why not? What is God asking of you as a “beloved”
son/daughter?
5. The meditation quotes Pope Francis as telling a group of
priests that shepherds should have “the smell of their sheep.” What do you
think this means? How does it apply to you?
6. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord to transform you
more and more into his likeness. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as
a starting point.
“Who am I, Lord, that you would offer me so much? Jesus, teach
me to be like you!” Amen!
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