06-Jan-2008
Dear Friend,
When people want to announce a new product, kick off a new campaign or
announce the arrival of a new personality, who is assuming public office, they
hold a press conference! When such press conferences are held the public become
aware of the new item, campaign or new person making his or her debut. Our
practice of religion can be looked upon as a private matter but it can also be
professed publicly, forcing us to be accountable for what we say and do. At
baptism God claimed us as his children. Have we publicly lived according to the
faith we profess? Have a God-affirming weekend! Fr. Jude
Sunday Reflections: Sunday Reflections Baptism -Affirmed as Gods Beloved
13-Jan-2008
Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10: 34-38;
Matthew 3: 13-17;
The first reading is part of the first Servant Song in the second part of the
Book of Isaiah. These poems portray an ideal figure, suffering, dedicated to
God, holy and a means of salvation from sin. This servant some have interpreted
as Israel and others as an individual person, the servant being Jesus Christ.
To establish righteousness God presents his servant whom Christian tradition
has identified with Jesus. Misunderstood and beaten, the servant of God will
not waver from his task and mission, which is to bring justice to the nations
through his suffering. It will be his responsibility to open the eyes of the
blind, to bring out the prisoners from prison and bring salvation to all. He
will be the source of salvation to all.
Called to Service
Nelson Mandela will go down as one of the greatest leaders of this century.
He was instrumental in ending apartheid and bringing about a multiracial
society in South Africa. Mandela belongs to the Xhosa people, and grew up in
the Transkei. But how did he come to play such a crucial role in the history of
his country? In his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he tells us that all
the currents of his life were taking him away from the Transkei. Yet he had no
epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth. He says: A steady
accumulation of insights helped me to see that my duty was to the people as a
whole, not to a particular section of it. The memory of a thousand indignities
produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that
imprisoned my people. There was no particular day on which I said, Henceforth I
will devote myself to the liberation of my people; instead I simply found
myself doing so, and could not do otherwise.
Flor McCarthy in Sunday and Holy day Liturgies
The second reading from the Acts of the Apostles, is part of Peters address
to his Gentile converts. It talks of Peters realization that Christianity was
a religion not only for the Jews but for all man. God has no favorites, but
everyone is a favourite of God. Peter stresses the universality of salvation
offered to all peoples. God wishes to save all men even though his plan of
salvation gave Israel preference or priority, Jesus Christ is Lord of all
men. What follows is the summary of the Good News: Jesus Christ is the Word of
God, made flesh, filled with the Spirit bring reconciliation and peace. He went
about doing good through his words and deeds.
Trinket of Treasure
Ann Thomas tells this story of herself. She was a t a garage sale with her
friend Betty. Ann had just sorted through a tray of trinkets. Betty came up and
asked, Any luck? No! said Ann. Its just a pile of junk. She stepped aside
to let Betty see for herself. Betty took one look at the pile, picked up a
tarnished old cross and said, I cant believe it. Ive found a treasure! This
cross is made of antique silver. When Anns friend got home, she cleaned the
cross and polished it. It was indeed a treasure. Ann ended the story saying,
Betty and I both looked at the same cross. I only saw junk; Betty saw a
treasure. Later Bettys seven-year-old son, Bobby picked up the cross, held it
reverently in his hands, and looked at it for a long time. Suddenly he began to
cry. Whats wrong? asked Betty. Bobby said, I cant help it. I was looking
at Jesus on the cross. Three people looked at the same cross. One saw junk,
another saw a treasure; a third saw Jesus.
Mark Link in Sunday Homilies
The Gospel according to Matthew highlights briefly the baptism of Jesus in
the Jordan, where Jesus was affirmed as the Son God by the Father, and the
Spirit of God descends on him in the form of a dove. The gospel account though
brief is full of drama and symbolism. This highlights the fact that Jesus at
his baptism was commissioned to carry out his mission of bringing justice to
all. As Isaiah had foretold, He brings justice; he will never waver nor be
crushed until justice is established on earth. What is this justice? Justice
in the biblical sense is meeting need wherever it exists and particularly where
it exists most helplessly. Likewise when we are christened at our baptism, we
too are made like Christ, and this christ-ing gives us our Christian
vocation, setting us aside to bring justice to the nations. Though Jesus
mission was for all, he was commissioned to bring justice particularly to
sinners, to the poor and the little ones of society. This is the reason
he allowed himself to be baptized. The Baptism of John the Baptist was a
baptism of repentance. It was a sign that the people repented of their sins.
But Jesus was always the sinless one of God, Gods beloved Son. In spite of it,
if he still chose to be baptized, it was to show his solidarity with us sinners
needing forgiveness; it was to identify himself with the poor, the distressed
and oppressed needing justice.
Identified with victims
When leprosy broke out among the people of the Hawaiian Islands in the middle
of the last century, the authorities responded by establishing a leper colony
on the remote island of Molokai. The victims were snatched by force from their
families and sent to this island to perish However, moved by their terrible
plight, a young Belgian priest Damien De Veuster, asked to be allowed to
minister to them. Straightaway he realized that there was only one effective
way to do this that was to go and live among them. Having got permission, he
went to Molokai. At first, he tried to minister to them while maintaining a
certain distance. But he soon realized that he had to live among them in order
to gain their trust. As a result he contracted leprosy himself. The reaction of
the lepers was immediate and wholehearted. They embraced him and took him to
their hearts. He was now one of them. There was no need, no point any more in
keeping his distance. The lepers had someone who could
talk with authority about leprosy, about brokenness, about rejection and
public shame.
Flor McCarthy in Sunday and Holy day Liturgies
The film Gandhi is a three hour epic, depicting the life of Mahatma Gandhi..
In order to lead the oppressed people of India to freedom from British rule,
Gandhi adopted means such as fasting from food, vigils of prayer, marches,
protests and civil disobedience. One of the reasons why Gandhi put on a loin
cloth and fasted from food, almost to the point of death, was to show
solidarity with the Indian people, identifying with them in their physical
sufferings, which finally brought independence to India. Vima Dasan
The last part of todays gospel reminds us that the Baptism of Jesus was an
act of affirmation done in public in the river Jordan during which Jesus was
publicly proclaimed by the Father: This is my son the Beloved; my favour rests
on him. We also need to be affirmed as the well-beloved sons and daughters of
the Father, by the Church, by the community and by individual brothers and
sisters. We ourselves have to live and proclaim publicly our baptism: that we
are truly sons and daughters of our heavenly father.
-The lights won't come on if the power is off. Jesus was able to live as he
did because he was full of the spiritual power of God. He was able to shine a
light in the darkness because the power was on. And the only real source of
spiritual power in this universe is the Spirit of God -Stevenson
-Baptism is not a bath, but a funeral bier. If it was a bath, you would need
it again and again. But since it is a death and new life, it is a once for all
picture of the transformation that has taken place in our lives. Baptism is
not about your goodness; it's about God's Grace. -Dr. Mickey Anders
-In the early rites of baptism, the church made this clear. The newly
baptized Christian was given a new white robe, symbolic of the new life that
was now being lived. Hands were laid on the head, sign of the gift of the Holy
Spirit, the empowerment to be in ministry with Christ in the world. Later, a
Bible was given, sign that this new Christian is to be in the world preaching
and teaching. -Willimon
Moment of Affirmation
When the American writer, Maya Angelou, was growing up she didnt see her
mother very much. She was brought up in great part by her grandmother, a
wonderful and saintly woman. She tells how when she was twenty years old, she
took a trip to San Francisco to visit her mother. It was a particularly
important yet vulnerable moment in Mayas life, she was struggling to make her
way in life and groping her way towards becoming a writer. She had quite a good
meeting with her mother. When it was time to leave, her mother walked her down
the hill to the waiting bus. As they parted, her mother said, You know, I
think you are the greatest woman I have ever met. Years later Maya could still
recall that moment vividly. She said, Waiting for the bus, I sat there
thinking. Just suppose shes right. Suppose I really am somebody. It was one of
those moments when the sky rolled back. At times like that, its almost as if
the whole earth holds its breath Maya went on to become a highly
successful and respected writer and poet. She composed and delivered an
inspiring poem at the inauguration of President Clinton.
Mark Link in Sunday Homilies
Gods press Conference
When likable Lou Holtz was announced as the new head football coach at the
University of Notre Dame, he was touted as one who would restore the schools
football program to its tradition of excellence. Whenever a new leader appears
on the scene, whether it is a new coach of a team or a new president of a
corporation, a press conference is usually held to proclaim that leaders
qualification and potential. Such press conferences usually create some
excitement about the leaders identity, and arouse our expectations with
glowing promises about what this leader will accomplish. Todays event of our
Lords baptism is something like this. Its as if God himself called a press
conference to reveal his Son Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and to give us a
preview of what his mission will accomplish.
Albert Cylwicki in His Word Resounds
May we give public witness that we are followers, not merely fans, of Jesus
Christ!
Fr. Jude Botelho
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
PS. The stories, incidents and anecdotes used in the reflections have been
collected over the years from books as well as from sources over the net and
from e-mails received. Every effort is made to acknowledge authors whenever
possible. If you send in stories or illustrations I would be grateful if you
could quote the source as well so that they can be acknowledged if used in
these reflections. These reflections are also available on my web site
www.netforlife.net Thank you.
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