Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - 13th January 2019 - Pope Francis Homily (Vatican News)

The Sacrament, by Solomon Raj
Baptism Of Christ, John The Baptist, Scripture Art

Pope Francis at Baptism Mass: ‘Faith is transmitted in the home’

Vatican Radio - During Mass on the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord, Pope Francis baptizes 27 newborn babies, and invites parents to transmit the faith to their children within the home.

Speaking to parents in his homily on Sunday, the Holy Father reflected on the parental duty of transmitting the faith to the next generation.

“You have asked the Church for faith for your children, and today they will receive the Holy Spirit and the gift of faith in each one’s heart and soul.”

But, Pope Francis said, “this faith must be developed; it must grow.”

Transmit faith at home
Before children study the faith in catechism classes, he said, their parents must transmit it at home, “because the faith is always transmitted ‘in dialect’,” that is, the native language spoken in the environs of the home.

The Pope said parents transmit the faith through their example and words, and by teaching their children to make the Sign of the Cross.

He said the faith must be transmitted “with your faith-filled lives”, so children see married love and peace within the family home. “May they see Jesus there.”

Don’t fight in front of children
Then Pope Francis gave parents a word of advice.

“Never fight in front of your children,” he said. “It’s normal that parents should argue; the opposite would be strange. Do it, but without letting them hear or see.”

“You have no idea the anguish it causes a child to see his or her parents fight.”

He said this was a word of advice “that will help you to transmit the faith.”

Get comfortable
Finally, Pope Francis invited the parents present at the ceremony to make their children comfortable, and to breastfeed them if they were hungry.

“To you mothers I say: Breastfeed your children, don't worry. The Lord wants this.”

*****************

Pope at Angelus: ‘Remember date of your Baptism’

13th January 2018 - SS102fm 2018 Year in Review

On this weeks programme the SS102fm undertakes our annual review of the year with a trip through what was a rather challenging 2018 in ecclesial terms. We are introduced to our blog patron saint of the year for 2019. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel of feast of the Baptism of the Lord as well as some small notices and other liturgical odds and ends.  

You can listen to this weeks full programme podcast HERE.

Patron Saints for 2019

As per SS102fm tradition we were given our 2019 patron saints via the saintsnamegenerator; and the saints allocated to us this year are:

• John - St Matthew the Apostle
• Shane - Archangel Raphael
• Lorraine - St Mary Magdalene
• Anne - St Jane of Valois

And our blog patron saint for 2019 is St Albert the Great - Albertus Magnus O.P. (c. 1193 – November 15, 1280), also known as Saint Albert the Great and Albert of Cologne, was a German Catholic Dominican friar and bishop. Later canonised as a Catholic saint, he was known during his lifetime as Doctor universalis and Doctor expertus and, late in his life, the sobriquet Magnus was appended to his name. The Catholic Church distinguishes him as one of the 36 Doctors of the Church.

2018 Year in Review

On SS102fm over the last few years about mid-January has had the custom of taking a look back at the year just gone from a faith perspective looking at things globally, papal related, nationally in Ireland and locally to Limerick diocese. We also do a bit of crystal ball gazing to see what might be the things to watch out for in 2019.

You can listen to the year in review discussion excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation,and all were asking in their heartswhether John might be the Christ.John answered them all, saying, "I am baptizing you with water,but one mightier than I is coming.I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
"You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased."

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire

Sunday Reflections

Centre for Liturgy

English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1 from Monday

Beginning of Ordinary Time until Ash Wednesday on 6th March 2019.

Saints of the Week

14th January - St Sava

15th January - St Ita of Kileedy

16th January - St Fursa

17th January - St Anthony the Abbot

18th January - St Beatrix of Este the Younger

19th January - St Fillan

Pope baptizes 34 babies, says faith can't grow without love at home

Vatican City, Jan 7, 2018 / 02:52 am (CNA/EWTN News).

Keeping with papal tradition, Pope Francis marked the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord by celebrating Mass in the Sistine Chapel, during which he baptized 34 infants, telling parents that love at home is the first requirement of passing on the faith.

“If there is no love at home, if the language of love isn't spoken between mother and father at home, you can't do it,” the Pope said Jan. 7, telling parents to “transmit the faith, but do it with the love of the family, at home.”

He celebrated Mass in the Sistine Chapel, as he does each year on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, during which he baptizes several infants. This year he administered the Sacrament of Baptism on 34 babies, 16 boys and 18 girls.

In his brief, off-the-cuff homily, the Pope told parents that in baptizing their children, they are making the “first step” in the task of transmitting the faith.

“We need the Holy Spirit to transmit the faith, or else we can't do it,” he said, adding that to transmit the faith “is a grace of the Holy Spirit.”

However, even with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Francis stressed that truly transmitting the faith to one's children “can only be done in love; in the love of the family, of the father and mother, grandmother and grandfather.”

Catechists come later in life to help in transmitting the faith with “ideas and explanations,” he said, but told parents “don't forget this: have love.”

He also told parents to be childlike in their own prayer, saying children communicate in the only way they can, but “it's the language Jesus likes a lot.”

“Jesus advises us to be like them, to speak like them. May your prayers be simple like children,” he said, telling parents that in their own prayer, “say it in your heart like they do” when they cry, and “the Lord will teach you how to be like them, how to speak to them.”

Francis closed his homily telling mothers that if the babies cry and “start to have a concert” because they are uncomfortable or hungry, to breastfeed them without fear or hesitation if it is the latter, “because this is also a language of love.”

After celebrating Mass, the Pope will then make his way to the Apostolic Palace, where he will lead pilgrims in the traditional Angelus prayer, as he does every Sunday.

*********************

Crux - Pope says to transmit the faith, parents must speak ‘language of love’

January 7th 2018 - Baptism of the Lord

On this weeks SS102fm programme, John and the team wish you a Happy New Year as we mark the close of the Christmas season on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We have a repeat of a reflection on New Years and new starts from Sr Dympna Clancy (RIP) as well as our regular reflection on the gospel of the day and other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.



New Years Reflection - Sr Dympna Clancy

We repeat a reflection shared with us by Sr Dympna Clancy on New Years Day 2017 where she reflects on what New Year could mean for us as individuals, families and as the family of families in the diocese of Limerick. 

You can listen to our podcast excerpted from the main programme HERE.








Gospel - Baptism of the Lord

John the Baptist proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Receptivity to God’s Love

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1, 1st week of ordinary time

Saints of the Week

January 8th - St Albert of Cashel
January 9th - St Marcellinus of Ancona
January 10th - St John of Jerusalem 
January 11th - St Eithne & Fedelemia
January 12th - St Aelred of Rievaulx
January 13th - St Hilary of Poitiers

8th January 2017 - Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

On this weeks programme John and Shane reflect on the homilies and addresses of Pope Francis over the Christmas season. We have our regular reflections on this weeks Sunday gospel as well as our liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

Messages of Hope over  the Christmas

John and Shane have a short discussion and reflection about the messages of Pope Francis over the Christmas period and how Christmas is a reminder to us that we should have hope; it doesnt end when the tree is taken down and the lights turned off but rather something to carry us through our daily lives no matter how dark the world around us can seem

Pope: ‘Let us allow ourselves to be challenged by the Child in the manger’

You can listen to this section of the programme excerpted on podcast HERE.

Gospel - Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - 1st week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

January 9th - Bl Josef Pawlowski
January 10th - St Dermot of Inis Clothrann
January 11th - St Breandan of Ireland
January 12th - St Aelrad of Rievaulx
January 13th - St Hilary of Potiers
January 14th - St Engelmaro

Theophany in Russia

Celebrating Epiphany on January 19, its date on the Julian calendar, numerous Russian Christians plunged into frigid waters, blessed by priests, in commemoration of Christ’s .

Agence France-Presse estimated that two million nationwide took part in the tradition this year.

Read more about it HERE.


UPDATE

10th January 2016 - The Baptism of the Lord - "The Bible... Exposed."

In today's programme John, Lorraine and Shane are back after the Christmas break and remind our listeners that today, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, is the last day of the Christmas season so we hope that you haven't taken down your decorations just yet :) We also give a teaser of our new Patron saints for 2016, but more about this next week...

Due to circumstances beyond our control at the station last week, the planned interview with Eilish Carter and Sharon Clohessy was not broadcast as planned so we are playing this interview for those who listen to us on the radio. Sharon and Eilish met while studying for a diploma in Biblical Theology at the Dominican Biblical Institute in Limerick and their shared love for the Word of God has inspired them to lead a ten week course called ‘The Bible… Exposed’ in Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre, St. Michael’s Courtyard, Denmark St., Limerick.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks full programme HERE.

"The Bible... Exposed"

Lorraine interviews Eilish Carter and Sharon Clohessy to find out more about their new course on the Bible. Sharon and Eilish met while studying for a diploma in Biblical Theology at the Dominican Biblical Institute in Limerick and their shared love for the Word of God has inspired them to lead a ten week course called ‘The Bible… Exposed’ in Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre, St. Michael’s Courtyard, Denmark St., Limerick. This course is designed to answer questions like: Can ancient writings like the Old Testament help us in everyday life? Are the Sacraments in the Bible? Is Jesus really present in the Mass? Who is the Holy Spirit? Can Mass be meaningful? Why do we have readings from the Old Testament, New Testament and Psalms?

This great new course will incorporate a mixture of PowerPoint, DVD, music, prayer and reflection. All you need is a Bible and an open heart.

The course will begin on Monday, January 18th 2016 for ten consecutive weeks and will meet from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. Booking is essential as places are limited. Cost is 10 euro per night. Contact Sharon Clohessy (087-9027217) or Eilish Carter (087-8170420 after 6pm). Booking Deadline: Monday, January 11th 2016.

Sharon is also leading a six week course on ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ (Evangelii Gaudium) in Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre beginning at 7.30pm on Wednesday, January 20th 2016 for six consecutive Wednesdays. This offers a great opportunity to read, study and reflect on ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ and to look at how we can put it into action in our lives and faith communities. Cost is 10 euro per night and copies of ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ will be provided.

For further details, contact Sharon Clohessy (087-9027217). Booking Deadline: Monday, January 11th 2016 – Limited places.

You can listen to the interview with Lorraine excerpted from the main programme HERE.

Gospel - Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you’.

In today's Gospel we have the third epiphany or manifestation of the Lord of the Christmas season (the first being the nativity and the showing to the Shepherds and the second to the Magi). Jesus is revealed to be the Son of God by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the words of God the Father: 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you." The question remains, however, of why Jesus underwent baptism at all. We are baptised so that we may be forgiven of our sins and put into a profound new relationship with God. Jesus, as God, was perfectly and infinitely sinless, and was already the Son of God. The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of His public ministry in the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus transforms the waters of baptism so that by being baptised we may become true children of God. Do you know when you were baptised? When did you become a child of God, a brother/sister of Jesus Christ, a temple of the Holy Spirit?

Shane also reminded us that we should still be 'wet from our baptism' in terms of the lives that we lead as Christians. We are not 'done and dusted' once we are baptised, but called to a life of metanoia - continually turning back to God and away from that which leads us from God.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire

Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical Odds & Ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1

Saints of the Week

January 11th - St. Brandan (St. Bran)
January 12th - St. Berndard of Corleone
January 13th - St. Hilary
January 14th - Blessed Godfrey of Cappenberg
January 15th - St. Ita (Patroness of the Diocese of Limerick)
January 16th - St. Fursa (St. Fursey)

Notices

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for the Feast of St. Ita - There will be 24 hours adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Ashford Church (in the parish of Killeedy - named after St. Ita) in preparation for the Feast of St. Ita from 10.30am on Thursday, January 14th to 10.00am on Friday, January 15th. If you are interested in covering an hour, please put your name on the rota at the back of the Church.

11th January 2015 - Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - Christmastide 2014

On this weeks programme John is joined in studio by Martina and Michael Keating who discuss the role and history of St Ita in Limerick diocese as well as a reflection on baptism. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel which is the last gospel of the Christmas period as well as other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the full programme podcast HERE.

Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is the doorway into the church as it is the first sacrament of initiation into the Body of Christ and on this weeks programme John and his panel reflect on the meaning of the sacrament and its impact on our lives as Christians and how it is an opening to grace in our lives.

You can listen to the reflection on baptism excerpted from the main programme HERE.

Pope Francis has reflected on the sacrament of baptism at numerous times since he was elected Pope with many reflections.He has reminded us that baptism is no just a formality. "It is an act that touches the depths of our existence. A baptized child and an unbaptized child are not the same. A person who is baptized and a person who is not baptized are not the same. We, by Baptism, are immersed in that inexhaustible source of life which is the death of Jesus, the greatest act of love in all of history; and thanks to this love we can live a new life, no longer at the mercy of evil, of sin and of death, but in communion with God and with our brothers and sisters". He has reflected on baptism during his weekly general audiences links to which are:

8th January 2014
15th January 2014

SS102fm has done a number of programmes on baptism before including a part of our series on the Sacraments when Sr Margaret O'Sullivan reflected on the sacrament of baptism HERE.

Gospel - Mark 1:7-11 - The Baptism of the Lord

And [John the Baptist] preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."

Catholic Culture - Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. This brings to an end the season of Christmas. The Church recalls Our Lord's second manifestation or epiphany which occurred on the occasion of His baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons of God. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes.

In the Eastern Church this feast is called Theophany because at the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan God appeared in three persons. The baptism of John was a sort of sacramental preparatory for the Baptism of Christ. It moved men to sentiments of repentance and induced them to confess their sins. Christ did not need the baptism of John. Although He appeared in the "substance of our flesh" and was recognized "outwardly like unto ourselves," He was absolutely sinless and impeccable. He conferred upon the water the power of the true Baptism which would remove all the sins of the world: "Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who takes away the sin of the world."

THE BELOVED

It was a voice out of nowhere.
It was a voice from everywhere.
It was the voice of love.
It was the voice from above.
.
“You are my beloved,” came the words;
“You are my beloved,” was what they heard.
“You are my Son;”
“You are the One.”
.
The words were spoken at the river
By One, who of all life, is the giver.
The words were spoken to identify Jesus;
The words were spoken that God might touch us.
.
Down through the centuries of life,
Through war and pestilence and strife,
The faithful lose all fear,
When “You are my beloved” is what they hear.
.
The words are meant for all;
The words are God’s call.
“I love you without reserve.”
“I love you more than you deserve.”
.
And then there comes a time in each soul
When we embrace our God and commit our whole.
We say we will follow Jesus’ way
And in his path we will stay.
.
But sometimes we forget that we are the beloved.
Sometimes we fail to seek the way of love.
Sometimes we think that on our own we can win.
Often we must repent of our life of sin.
.
And again we pledge our hearts and vow
That we want to make a difference now.
We hear the challenge to reach out –
We look beyond our walls and that’s what Christianity is about.
.
We remember that Jesus would not be in our midst.
He would be among the people whom we try to miss.
He would walk with the homeless, sit with the sick –
The poorest of the poor would be his pick.
.
When we do likewise, our soul is eased
And God says of us, “With you I am well pleased.”
And in the squalor of our sinful life, God continues to love
And speaks to the people of the ages that we, too, are the beloved.


- Rev. Terry Heck, Bellbrook UMC, Bellbrook, OH.

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

St Ita of Kileedy - co-patron of the diocese of Limerick

St Ita also known as the Brigid of Munster is associated with the parish of Killeedy and is one of the co-patrons of the diocese of Limerick. January 15th is her feast day. 

In previous years Michael Keating has shared with us about this extraordinary woman and her role on the development of the faith. 

We discussed how she is a role model and especially how she is a role model for women and what she would say to us in Limerick today. 

We discussed her links with Killeedy, her fostering of various Irish saints and her link with St. Brendan the Navigator. 

She is reportedly a good intercessor in terms of pregnancy and eye illnesses.

"St Ita, the patron saint of Killeedy, was born before 484AD in County Waterford, in the Tramore area. Her father was Cennfoelad or Confhaola and her mother was Necta. Cennfoelad was descended from Felim the lawgiver. 

Ita's name was originally Dorothea or Deirdre. She was a member of the Déisí tribe. Ita refused her father's wish that she should marry a local chieftain, as she believed that she had a calling from God and wanted to become a nun. To convince her father to change his mind, she fasted for three days and three nights. On the third night, God gave out to her father in his sleep. The next morning, Cennfoelad agreed that Ita could do as she wished. At the age of sixteen, Ita set off on her journey. Bishop (St.) Declan of Ardmore conferred the veil on her. 

Legend has it that Ita was lead to Killeedy by three heavenly lights. The first was at the top of the Galtee mountains, the second on the Mullaghareirk mountains and the third at Cluain Creadhail, which is nowadays Killeedy. Her sister Fiona also went to Killeedy with her and became a member of the community. Ita was welcomed to Killeedy by the local chieftain of the Ui Conaill Gabhra tribe. The chieftain wanted to give Ita a large trait of land but she only wanted a few acres as a garden for her community."

You can listen to Michael Keating's 2014 reflection on St Ita HERE.

You can read the 2013 post on St Ita including a discussion between Fr Michael Liston and Michael Keating HERE and previous posts including the readings and other information HERE.


Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of the Hours - 1st Week in Ordinary time, Psalter Week 1

Saints of the Week

12th January - Blessed Pierre-François Jamet
13th January - St Hilary
14th January - St Sava of Serbia
15th January - St Ita of Killeedy; co-patron of the diocese of Limerick
16th January - St Fursa (abbott and missionary)
17th January - St Anthony (abbot)
18th January -Beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

12th January 2014 - Baptism of the Lord - St Ita of Killeedy

On this weeks programme John and Lorraine are joined by Michael Keating who tells us about St Ita of Killeedy whose feast day we celebrate on 15th January 2013. We have our regular reflection on the gospel and a reflection on the 'giftedness' of baptism. We also have  some other liturgical odds and ends.
 
You can listen to the full programme podcast HERE.
 
St Ita of Killeedy  

St Ita also known as the Brigid of Munster is associated with the parish of Killeedy and is one of the co-patrons of the diocese of Limerick. January 15th is her feast day, and on this weeks show, Michael Keating tells us about this extraordinary woman and her role on the development of the faith. We discuss how she is a role model and especially how she is a role model for women and what she would say to us in Limerick today. We discuss her links with Killeedy, her fostering of various Irish saints and her link with St. Brendan the Navigator. She is reportedly a good intercessor in terms of pregnancy and eye illnesses.

"St Ita, the patron saint of Killeedy, was born before 484AD in County Waterford, in the Tramore area. Her father was Cennfoelad or Confhaola and her mother was Necta. Cennfoelad was descended from Felim the lawgiver. Ita's name was originally Dorothea or Deirdre. She was a member of the Déisí tribe. Ita refused her father's wish that she should marry a local chieftain, as she believed that she had a calling from God and wanted to become a nun. To convince her father to change his mind, she fasted for three days and three nights. On the third night, God gave out to her father in his sleep. The next morning, Cennfoelad agreed that Ita could do as she wished. At the age of sixteen, Ita set off on her journey. Bishop (St.) Declan of Ardmore conferred the veil on her. Legend has it that Ita was lead to Killeedy by three heavenly lights. The first was at the top of the Galtee mountains, the second on the Mullaghareirk mountains and the third at Cluain Creadhail, which is nowadays Killeedy. Her sister Fiona also went to Killeedy with her and became a member of the community. Ita was welcomed to Killeedy by the local chieftain of the Ui Conaill Gabhra tribe. The chieftain wanted to give Ita a large trait of land but she only wanted a few acres as a garden for her community."

Bishop Brendan Leahy will join parish priest Fr John Keating and the people of Killeedy on Wednesday January 15th in celebrating the feast of St Ita- patroness of the Diocese. In the tradition and spirit of St Ita the people of Killeedy make January 15th a day of prayer and celebration. Raheenagh Church will be full to capacity for concelebrated Mass at 11am. Afterwards people will "pay the rounds" at St Ita's Shrine. Mass will be celebrated in Ashford Church at 7.30pm.

Legend has it that Ita had a little cell built for herself away from the convent (probably made of thatch and wattle) and there she would spend some hours each day in quiet prayer. In keeping with this practice there will be 24 hour Eucharistic Adoration in Raheenagh Church commencing after 10am Mass on Tuesday 14th Jan.

You can listen to Michael Keating's 2014 reflection on St Ita HERE.
 
You can read the 2013 post on St Ita including a discussion between Fr Michael Liston and Michael Keating HERE and previous posts including the readings and other information HERE.
 




Gospel - Matthew 3:3-13
 

"Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
 

THE BELOVED

It was a voice out of nowhere.
It was a voice from everywhere.
It was the voice of love.
It was the voice from above.
.
“You are my beloved,” came the words;
“You are my beloved,” was what they heard.
“You are my Son;”
“You are the One.”
.
The words were spoken at the river
By One, who of all life, is the giver.
The words were spoken to identify Jesus;
The words were spoken that God might touch us.
.
Down through the centuries of life,
Through war and pestilence and strife,
The faithful lose all fear,
When “You are my beloved” is what they hear.
.
The words are meant for all;
The words are God’s call.
“I love you without reserve.”
“I love you more than you deserve.”
.
And then there comes a time in each soul
When we embrace our God and commit our whole.
We say we will follow Jesus’ way
And in his path we will stay.
.
But sometimes we forget that we are the beloved.
Sometimes we fail to seek the way of love.
Sometimes we think that on our own we can win.
Often we must repent of our life of sin.
.
And again we pledge our hearts and vow
That we want to make a difference now.
We hear the challenge to reach out –
We look beyond our walls and that’s what Christianity is about.
.
We remember that Jesus would not be in our midst.
He would be among the people whom we try to miss.
He would walk with the homeless, sit with the sick –
The poorest of the poor would be his pick.
.
When we do likewise, our soul is eased
And God says of us, “With you I am well pleased.”
And in the squalor of our sinful life, God continues to love
And speaks to the people of the ages that we, too, are the beloved.


- Rev. Terry Heck, Bellbrook UMC, Bellbrook, OH.

 
You can listen to this weeks reflection on Baptism excerpted from the programme HERE where we reflect on the 'giftedness' of baptism and how those who are baptised now belong to Christ. As Pope Francis reminded us during the week baptism is no just a formality. "It is an act that touches the depths of our existence. A baptized child and an unbaptized child are not the same. A person who is baptized and a person who is not baptized are not the same. We, by Baptism, are immersed in that inexhaustible source of life which is the death of Jesus, the greatest act of love in all of history; and thanks to this love we can live a new life, no longer at the mercy of evil, of sin and of death, but in communion with God and with our brothers and sisters".

Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience has begun a series on the sacraments and this week he spoke about baptism, you can read/listen to it HERE.
 
Reflections on this weeks gospel:
 
Word on Fire - Priest, Prophet, and King : The Baptism of the Lord
Blue Eyed Ennis
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

UPDATE: Digital Nun blogging at iBenedictines on the Baptism of the Lord

Our previous posts on this feast day HERE and HERE.
 
Liturgical odds and ends
 
Liturgy of the Hours - 1st Week in Ordinary time, Psalter Week 1
 
Saints of the Week
 
13th January - St Hilary
14th January - St Sava of Serbia
15th January - St Ita of Killeedy; co-patron of the diocese of Limerick
16th January - St Fursa (abbott and missionary)
17th January - St Anthony (abbot)
18th January - St Ulfrid of Sweden Beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - Homily of Pope Benedict XVI

Courtesy of Rocco over at Whispers:

Keeping with longtime Vatican custom on this feast of the Baptism of the Lord – the end of the church's observance of Christmas – this morning the Pope christened 20 infants in the Sistine Chapel, in the lone Papal Liturgy of the year behind the walls that's celebrated mostly in Italian (as opposed to Latin), so the parents and families of the newly-baptized can fully take part.

Here below, B16's homily in its official English translation.

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Dear brothers and sisters!

The joy arising from the celebration of Christmas finds its completion today in the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. To this joy is added another reason for those of us who are gathered here: in the Sacrament of Baptism that will soon be administered to these infants, the living and active presence of the Holy Spirit is manifested, enriching the Church with new children, enlivening and making them grow, and we cannot help but rejoice. I wish to extend a special greeting to you, dear parents and godparents, who today bear witness to your faith by requesting Baptism for these children, because they are regenerated to new life in Christ and become part of the community of believers.

The Gospel account of Jesus' baptism, which we have heard today according to St Luke’s account, shows the path of abasement and humility that the Son of God freely chose in order to adhere to the plan of the Father, to be obedient to His loving will for mankind in all things, even to the sacrifice on the Cross. Having reached adulthood, Jesus begins His public ministry by going to the River Jordan to receive from John the baptism of repentance and conversion. What happens may appear paradoxical to our eyes. Does Jesus need repentance and conversion? Of course not. Yet He Who is without sin is placed among the sinners to be baptized, to fulfil this act of repentance; the Holy One of God joins those who recognize in themselves the need for forgiveness and ask God for the gift of conversion – that is, the grace to turn to Him with their whole heart, to be totally His. Jesus wills to put Himself on the side of sinners, by being in solidarity with them, expressing the nearness of God. Jesus shows solidarity with us, with our effort to convert, to leave behind our selfishness, to detach ourselves from our sins, saying to us that if we accept Him into our lives, He is able to raise us up and lead us the heights of God the Father. And this solidarity of Jesus is not, so to speak, a mere exercise of the mind and will. Jesus was really immersed in our human condition; He lived it to the utmost – although without sin – and in such a way that He understands weakness and fragility. Therefore He is moved to compassion; He chooses to “suffer with” men, to be penitent together with us. This is the work of God that Jesus wishes to accomplish: the divine mission to heal those who are wounded and to cure those who are sick, to take upon Himself the sin of the world.

What happens at the moment when Jesus was baptized by John? In the face of this humble act of love on the part of the Son of God, the heavens open and the Holy Spirit is visibly manifested in the form of a dove, while a voice from on high expresses the pleasure of the Father, Who recognizes the Only-begotten Son, the Beloved. It is a true manifestation of the Holy Trinity, which gives testimony to the divinity of Jesus, to His being the promised Messiah, the One whom God has sent to free His people, so that His people might be saved (cf. Is 40, 2). Thus is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that we heard in the first reading: the Lord God comes with power to destroy the works of sin and His arm exercises dominion to disarm the Evil one; but keep in mind that this arm is the arm extended on the Cross, and the power of Christ is the power of the One who suffers for us: this is the power of God, differing from the power of the world. Thus God comes in power to destroy sin. Jesus truly acts as the good shepherd, that feeds His flock and gathers it together so that it will not be scattered (cf. Is 40, 10-11), and offers His own life that it might live. It is through His redemptive death that man is freed from the dominion of sin and reconciled with the Father; and through His resurrection that man is saved from eternal death and is made victorious over the Evil one.

Dear brothers and sisters, what happens in Baptism, which will soon be administered to your children? What happens is this: they will be united in a profound way and forever with Jesus, immersed in the mystery of His power, that is, in the mystery of His death, which is the source of life, in order to share in His resurrection, to be reborn to new life. See the miracle that is repeated today for your children: receiving baptism, they are reborn as children of God, partakers of the filial relationship that Jesus has with the Father, able to turn to God and call upon Him with full trust and confidence: “Abba, Father!” On your children, too, the heavens are opened, and God says: “these are my children, with whom I am well pleased.” Inserted into this relationship and freed from original sin, they become living members of the unique body which is the Church, and are enabled to live fully their vocation to holiness, so as to inherit eternal life, obtained for us by the resurrection of Jesus.

Dear parents, in asking for Baptism for your children, you manifest and bear witness to your faith, to the joy of being a Christian and of belonging to the Church. It is the joy that comes from knowing you have received a great gift from God – the faith – a gift that none of us have merited, but that has been freely given and to which we have responded with our “yes.” It is the joy of recognizing ourselves as children of God, of discovering that we have been entrusted into His hands, to know that we are welcomed into a loving embrace, in the same way that a mother supports and embraces her child. This joy, that directs the path of every Christian, is based on a personal relationship with Jesus, a relationship that guides the whole of human existence. He, in fact, is the meaning of our life, the One upon Whom it is worthy to gaze, in order to be enlightened by His Truth and be able to live life to the fullest. The way of faith that begins today for these children is therefore based on a certainty, on the experience that there is nothing greater than to know Christ and to communicate friendship with Him to others; only in this friendship is the great potential of the human condition truly revealed and we can experience what is beautiful and what is free (cf. Homily at Mass for the beginning of his pontificate, April 24, 2005). Those who have this experience are not willing to give up their faith for anything in the world.

Dear godfathers and godmothers, yours is the important duty of supporting and contributing to the work of parents in education, working alongside them in the transmission of the truths of faith and in witnessing to the values ​​of the Gospel, in raising these children in an ever deeper friendship with the Lord. May you always give them your good example, through the exercise of Christian virtues. It is not easy to demonstrate what you believe in openly and without compromise, especially in the context in which we live, in the face of a society that often considers those who live by faith in Jesus to be old-fashioned and out of date. In the wake of this mentality, there can be, even among Christians, the risk of understanding the relationship with Jesus as limiting, as something that is detrimental to personal fulfilment, “God is seen as a limitation of our freedom, a limitation that destroys man’s ability to be himself” (The Infancy of Jesus, 101). But it is not so! This view demonstrates that it has understood nothing of the relationship with God, because, proceeding along the path of faith, we understand that Jesus exercises over us the freeing action of God's love that takes us beyond our selfishness and keeps us from being turned in on ourselves, in order to lead a full life, a life in communion with God and open to others. “‘God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God abides in him’ (1 Jn 4:16). These words from the First Letter of John express with remarkable clarity the heart of the Christian faith: the Christian image of God and the resulting image of mankind and its destiny” (Encyclical Deus caritas est, 1).

The water with which these children will be signed in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit immerses them in the “fount” of life that is God Himself and that will make them His own children. And the seed of the theological virtues, infused by God – faith, hope and charity – the seed that today is placed in their hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit, must always be fed by the Word of God and the Sacraments, so that these virtues of the Christian can grow and reach full maturity, in order to make each one of them a true witness of the Lord. While we invoke upon these little children the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, we entrust them to the protection of the Holy Virgin: May she always guard them with her maternal presence and accompany them at every moment of their lives. Amen.