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The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, January 13, 2002 The Baptism of the Lord Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7 Psalm 29:1-4,9-10 Acts 10:34-38 Matthew 3:13-17 A Reflection on today's Scripture: The Baptism of Jesus by John in the waters of the Jordan was a very necessary and significant event in the course of salvation history. Today, on this feast which commemorates Jesus' baptism, we learn the importance of the event. Hundreds of years previous, Isaiah foretold the savior, "the bruised reed he shall not break" - that is, Jesus, his suffering and death (it was chronicled that his legs were not broken to hasten death at the crucifixion, as was the custom of the Roman soldiers). Isaiah also foretold that this savior was "....called...in justice...for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles....(to) open the eyes of the blind, and bring forth the prisoner out of the prison, and (those) who live in darkness." (Isaiah 42:6-7) It is no wonder then, that as Jesus became obedient in all things, submitted to the symbolic, yet actual, baptism by John in the Jordan. The gospel paints this tremendously dramatic scene: "And immediately on coming up from the water He saw the heavens opened and the Spirit, as a dove, descending and remaining upon Him. And there came a voice from the heavens: 'Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased'" (Mark 1:10-11) So it was sealed! Jesus is indeed the Son of God the Father, in whom the Holy Spirit mystically dwells, the Second Person of the Triune Godhead! In this manner, Jesus began his public ministry, bonded to humanity in the Holy Spirit, through the water of John's baptism. - Joachim (1994) YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters. The Daily Meditations appear online in English & Spanish at: http://homepage.mac.com/ojoachim3/DailyMeds.html ARCHIVED Meditations at: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit. All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible. Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/ |
Title: Meditation: January 13, 2002
