Jan. 9th - Baptism of the Lord

(Is 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Lk 3:15-16, 21-22)

The first reading from Isaiah describes God's Suffering Servant as bringing justice to the nations. His justice is marked not by severity but by mercy, clemency, and freedom from the bonds of sin. This is what is meant by “...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...” Christ is the fulfillment of this prophesy as his coming brings hope to all who have been oppressed by sin or have been living in darkness. That is our main reason for seeing this as a season of joy. Peter echoes this theme in the second reading when he says to the household of Cornelius, “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil.” The fact that Cornelius was a centurion and a Gentile reminds us that the hope promised by the Christ is for the whole world.

Imagine the scene described in today's Gospel. You are in the crowd that has just been baptized by John. All of a sudden you see the heavens opened and what looks like a dove descending upon a man named Jesus. Then a voice from above calls him His beloved Son. And you remember how John had just denied being the Christ, but had said the Christ in coming. The thought that this Jesus is in fact the one John was talking about certainly comes to mind.

• The reasons for Jesus submitting to baptism could not have been the same as the reasons of the crowd who came to repent. Discuss what purposes Jesus might have had in having John baptize him.
• Peter says to Cornelius, “God shows no partiality.” Are there times when we show partiality?
• Isaiah speaking for God says that His chosen servant (whom we see as a Christ figure) will “bring out prisoners from confinement.” Understanding that confinement can mean much more than physical prisons, list as many ways as you can in which people in 2022 are in need of release from confinement.