January 10, 1010 - “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Sunday Readings' Reflections
Feast of the Lord's Baptism, January 10, 2009 (BaptismofLordC)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios para Domingo
Burning Question: Why do Catholics baptize babies?

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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Book of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 42, verses 1-4, 6-7
optional: Book of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 40, verses 1-5, 9-11

1. In this reading (Isaiah 42), God says to the suffering servant, ”Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased.” Then in the Gospel a voice comes from heaven, saying to Jesus, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” What are the implications?

2. Wastelands, deserts, rugged land and rough country (Isaiah 40). Could these words describe the world today? The Church? Your spiritual life? Does this reading suggest that there is help in fixing these or do you have to do it all yourself?

Second Reading
Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 10, Verses 34-38
optional: Letter of St. Paul to Titus, Chapter 2, verses 11-14 & Chapter 3, verses 4-7

1. Did we do anything to earn salvation? Why does God give it to us? What does St. Paul in his letter to Titus say about the extravagance of God’s gift to us?

2. In the reading from Acts Peter is quoted as saying this about Jesus: “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil.” Compare this with Isaiah in the First Reading: “I formed you…to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.”

Gospel
According to Luke, Chapter 3, Verses 15-16, 21-22

1. John the Baptist was the middleman. He pointed back to Isaiah and forward to Jesus, connecting the whole plan. What or who are the “middlemen” who connect you with God? In what way are you a middleman?

2. Jesus stood in line with everyone else to be baptized. What does this tell you about him? Can you think of anything that God asks you to do that Jesus didn’t experience in some way?

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