Called to be His Children

It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction. - St Edmund

First Reading :  Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

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, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; 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.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10.

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying:  “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.

You know the word that he sent to the Israelites  as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea,  beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,  how 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.”

Gospel: Mark  1:7-11

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. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 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.”

Reflection
By Nicola S. Albano

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord reminds us that God became man for us to be saved. We, as Christians, were all baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We became God’s children too, when we received the Sacrament of Baptism.


We are all called to live our lives with love, praise, and obedience towards God, and to proclaim to others that our Lord God is almighty and merciful. Let us remember to thank God for giving us our Lord Jesus Christ, whose dying and rising made it possible for us to become heirs of heaven.

Prayer

Dear God, when Christ has been baptized and as the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, we pray that we, Your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be pleasing to You. Please bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.