1st Reading: Is 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.
2nd 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: Mt 3:13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Humility of Jesus: Jesus was God and so did not need to be baptised. The Bapism of John the Baptist was an act of repentance and conversion. Jesus did not need to repent and be converted. In his humility however, he cements his incarnation. He desires to be one with us, to be born like us, grow as a child like us, be baptised like us. This is in preparation for his ministry that culminates in his passion, death and ressurection. In his baptism God’s favour is reiterated. In turn we are clearly told, “Listen to him.” We cannot be wrong when we listen to the voice of Jesus and do as he commands. He is the Bread of Life. He is Eternal Life. In him we can never perish but have joy. If God so loved the world, humbled himself and was ready to take up a human body like us and die on the cross, who are we not to be humble in iur human undertakings?
Prayer: Lord, guide us towards your Son. Amen.
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IS THE LORD WELL PLEASED WITH YOU? In the past, slaves had to always do the master’s will. However, when granted a chance to be free, the slave was immersed in a river, marking the end of the slavery, and the start of a new life of freedom, marked by a new name. In Christianity, one who is not baptized is a slave of the Original Sin, and of other sins; sin is his master. During baptism, one is immersed into the baptismal font, and is washed clean. He is born into the Christian community, and acquires a new status; a child of God and of the Church. Through Baptism, one acquires a new life in Christ, and a new name. Acquiring a saint’s name invokes the saint’s intercession, to help the new Christian remain faithful to the new life and avoid sin. Through Baptism, God releases his Holy Spirit to descend and dwell in the new-born. When we allow God’s Spirit to guide us, our actions reveal God in us. If we fall in sin, and make no effort to rise up, we cannot claim to be baptized.
DAILY GOSPEL 