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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cycle B

11 Jan 2015

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 55:1-11 or 42:1-4, 6-7 The faithful servant of God bears the spirit of the one who sends him. Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 The voice of the LORD can be heard over the vast waters. 1 John 5:1–9 or Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38 Baptism starts with John, and the gift of the Spirit with Jesus. Mark 1:7-11 John agrees that water Baptism is important, but the arrival of the Spirit even more vital.

Mark 1:7-11 Isaiah 55:1-11 Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 1 John 5:1-9 Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38 Jesus' Baptism

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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cycle B

11 Jan 2009

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 55:1-11 The prophet invites us to seek the Lord, who satisfies every longing. Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 At the springs of salvation are the waters that inspire joy. 1 John 5:1-9 Love of God is proven not by words but in a life of obedient faithfulness. Mark 1:7-11 By a sign from heaven Jesus is publicly recognized as the Beloved Son.

Mark 1:7-11 Isaiah 55:1-11 Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 1 John 5:1-9 Jesus' Baptism

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Baptized into Christ

Funeral, Sacrament-based, Holy Day, Holiday, Special Occasion - Sample homilies to be adapted for your use

Sacrament: Baptism Readings: Mark 1:7-11 IF WE WERE CHILDREN before the gathering of the Second Vatican Council, we probably learned in catechism that one of the reasons we need to be baptized is to remove the original sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. Nowadays, we prefer to teach that Baptism initiates the non-baptized into a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ in the context of the pilgrim community we know as church. Although both of these theologies are correct, there are perhaps even more profound reasons why we need the sacrament of Baptism in the church. Mark’s gospel on the Baptism of Jesus gives us a hint of the profundity at work in the sacrament of Baptism. That hint comes to us in the form of a question. It could be put like this. If we need to be baptized in order to remove original sin or to begin a new life in the church, then why did Jesus need to be baptized? After all, Jesus was born without sin, and it is we who are initiated into a relationship with Christ, not vice-versa. One reason that is often given is that in being baptized Jesus shows his solidarity with the rest of us. Although he did not have to be baptized, Jesus asked John to baptize him so that he could be seen as one with the rest of us. Although that explanation is plausible, there are others that are more profound. A more plausible explanation is one that turns the tables. It is not so much that Jesus is baptized to show solidarity with us, but, rather, to give us an example so that we may show solidarity with Christ. In other words, Christ asked to be baptized in order that we may imitate him. Jesus, in being baptized, offers us a kind of imitatio Christi, imitation of Christ. The imitatio Christi is a centuries-old practice of spiritually following Jesus through all his earthly sufferings, even unto the cross. We do this by reflecting deeply on our own sufferings and identifying them with Jesus’ own. Christ asked to be baptized in order that we may imitate him. If Baptism is a kind of imitatio Christi, many of us are not aware of it. Nonetheless, if we listened carefully to the words of the rite, we would hear the words of suffering and the cross. As the priest or deacon baptizes, he speaks about a great flood, of dying and rising with Christ. These are the words of an imitatio Christi. They are the words of an invitation to follow Christ in our Baptism in his suffering. We often do not hear these words of future suffering because we are enthralled with the familiar picture of an infant or child being proudly presented to the community. Nonetheless, there is an element of tragedy in the baptismal rite—an invitation to follow Christ even to the cross. This tragic element, however, has to be understood in the fullness of following Christ. We not only follow Christ to the cross but also into his Resurrection. Baptism invites us fully to imitate Christ. It is this element of the baptismal imitatio Christi that gives the baptismal rite its festive and joyful character. Unless, however, we understand the reason for that joy, the sure promise of the resurrection—that there exists certain hope even in the midst of the world’s suffering—our festivity at a Baptism may not be as rich or profound as it is meant to be. THE MOST PROFOUND REASON, though, for Baptism is that depicted in Mark’s detail of Christ’s Baptism. The heavens open up while a dove descends and a voice is heard to say: “This is my Son with whom I am well pleased.” Of course, we usually do not experience an ordinary Baptism in this way. We do not ordinarily see the heavens open up or hear voices from the sky. We do not see something glorious or heavenly happening before our very eyes. We do not really need to. In being baptized, Jesus taught us that we, too, should be baptized because it pleases God. In being baptized, Jesus revealed God’s will for us. This is, after all, the most important reason for being baptized—that in being baptized we please God. Indeed, if we had the spiritual eyes to see and the spiritual ears to hear, we, too, might be able to see and hear, as the water is poured over a soon-to-be Christian, a marvelous light and a wonderful voice that says: “This is my child with whom I am well pleased.”

Authors Alex García-Rivera

sacrament baptism Mark 1:7-11 rite of initiation

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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cycle B

10 Jan 2021

SUNDAY SUMMARY Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 The servant of the Lord establishes justice on the Earth. Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 The God of glory blesses the children of God with peace. Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38 Peter brings the good news to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Mark 1:7-11 The Spirit descends on Jesus, the beloved Son of God. Homilist's overview of January. More resources for the month available in Seasonal notes.

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38 Mark 1:7-11 Jesus' Baptism

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