The Baptism of the Lord
Lectionary: 21
Lectionary: 21
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.
Or:
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.
Or:
Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread,
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
As I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of nations,
so shall you summon a nation you knew not,
and nations that knew you not shall run to you,
because of the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.
Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.
For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
Or:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread,
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.
As I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander of nations,
so shall you summon a nation you knew not,
and nations that knew you not shall run to you,
because of the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.
Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call him while he is near.
Let the scoundrel forsake his way,
and the wicked man his thoughts;
let him turn to the LORD for mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
As high as the heavens are above the earth
so high are my ways above your ways
and my thoughts above your thoughts.
For just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
Or:
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."
Or:
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."
Or:
Beloved:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
Who indeed is the victor over the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ,
not by water alone, but by water and blood.
The Spirit is the one who testifies,
and the Spirit is truth.
So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the blood,
and the three are of one accord.
If we accept human testimony,
the testimony of God is surely greater.
Now the testimony of God is this,
that he has testified on behalf of his Son.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
R. (11b) The
Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Or:
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Or:
R. (3) You
will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.R/ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.R/ You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
AlleluiaCF. JN 1:29
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
John saw Jesus approaching him, and said:
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
John saw Jesus approaching him, and said:
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMK 1:7-11
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
"One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."
Meditation: The Spirit descends upon the
Father's beloved Son
Why did Jesus, the Sinless One, submit himself to
John's baptism? John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of
sins (Luke 3:3) - of which Jesus had no need. However, in this humble
submission we see a foreshadowing of the "baptism" of his bloody
death upon the cross. Jesus' baptism is the acceptance and the beginning of his
mission as God's suffering Servant (Isaiah 53). He allowed himself to be
numbered among sinners. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father's will.
Out of love he consented to this baptism of death for the remission of our
sins. Do you know the joy of trust and submission to God?
The Father proclaimed his entire delight in his Son
and spoke audibly for all to hear. The Holy Spirit, too, was present as he
anointed Jesus for his ministry which began that day as he rose from the waters
of the Jordan River. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all who come to
believe in him. At his baptism the heavens were opened and the waters were
sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, signifying the
beginning of a new creation.
How can we enter into the mystery of Jesus' humble
self-abasement and baptism? Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390 AD), an early church
father tells us:
"Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise
with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with
him to be glorified with him."
Do you want to see your life transformed by the love
and power of Jesus Christ? And do you want to become a more effective
instrument of the Gospel of peace, mercy, and righteousness? Examine Jesus'
humility and ask the Holy Spirit to forge this same attitude in your heart. As
you do, heaven will open for you as well. The Lord Jesus is ever ready to renew
us in his Holy Spirit and to anoint us for mission. We are called to be
"light" and "salt" to those around us. The Lord wants his
love and truth to shine through us that others may see the goodness and truth
of God's message of salvation. Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with his Holy
Spirit that you may radiate the joy of the Gospel to those around you.
"Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and
inflame my heart with the joy of the Gospel. May I find joy in seeking to
please you just as you found joy in seeking to please your Father."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: The divine - human reconciliation,
attributed to Hippolytus, 170-236 A.D.
"Do you see, beloved, how many and how great
blessings we would have lost if the Lord had yielded to the exhortation of John
and declined baptism? For the heavens had been shut before this. The region
above was inaccessible. We might descend to the lower parts, but not ascend to
the upper. So it happened not only that the Lord was being baptized - he also
was making new the old creation. He was bringing the alienated under the
scepter of adoption (Romans 8:15). For straightway 'the heavens were opened to him.'
A reconciliation took place between the visible and the invisible. The
celestial orders were filled with joy, the diseases of earth were healed,
secret things made known, those at enmity restored to amity. For you have heard
the word of the Evangelist, saying, 'The heavens were opened to him,' on
account of three wonders [appearance of the eternal Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit together at the baptism]. At the baptism of Christ the Bridegroom, it
was fitting that the heavenly chamber should open its glorious gates. So when
the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the Father's voice spread
everywhere, it was fitting that 'the gates of heaven should be lifted
up.'" (excerpt from THE DISCOURSE ON THE
HOLY THEOPHANY 6)
FEAST OF THE
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
MONDAY, JANUARY 8, MARK 1:7-11
(Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 55:1-11; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 John 5:1-9)
MONDAY, JANUARY 8, MARK 1:7-11
(Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 55:1-11; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 John 5:1-9)
KEY VERSE: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (v.11).
TO KNOW: The baptism of Jesus is another "epiphany," or divine manifestation. The word baptism comes from a Greek word baptizo, which means to plunge, or to be submerged in water. Christian baptism is very different from Jewish ritual washings or cleansings, which were self-administered and could be repeated many times. Christian baptism is administered by another person and happens only once in a lifetime. At the heart of Christian baptism is dying to one way of living and then rising to a whole new way of life. In baptism, the elect are plunged into the death and resurrection of Christ (Ro 6:3-5). By submitting to baptism Jesus embraced our full humanity. God's beloved Son sanctified the foul waters of our sinfulness by his divine presence (2 Cor 5:21). Just as God's favor rested on Jesus, all God's children are beloved sons and daughters.
TO LOVE: Do I understand my own baptismal promises so I can practice them in my daily life?
TO SERVE: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, fill me with grace to do your work here on earth.
NOTE: The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings the Christmas season to a close. Baptism forgives all sin and incorporates one in the life of the Trinity. Believers are given a share in the divine nature. In addition, baptism makes one a member of the Body of Christ and of the visible manifestation of that body, the Church, and provides for us a share in the mission of Jesus. Water is the main symbolic element that conveys the sacrament of baptism, along with the words, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." That triple plunging or immersing in the water symbolizes dying to the old self. Coming up out of the water corresponds to being born as a new person in Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church par. 1239-40).
ORDINARY TIME
Ordinary Time is called "ordinary" because the weeks are numbered. The Latin word ordinalis, which refers to numbers in a series, stems from the Latin word ordo, from which we get the English word order. Thus, Ordinary Time is in fact the ordered life of the Church—the period in which we live our lives neither in feasting (as in the Christmas and Easter seasons) or in more severe penance (as in Advent and Lent), but in watchfulness and expectation of the Second Coming of Christ. There are two times we are in Ordinary Time. There are 28 weeks of Ordinary Time after Easter and 5 weeks of Ordinary Time after Christmas. However, this varies depending upon when Easter falls in a particular year. The actual number of weeks of Ordinary Time in any given year can total 33 or 34.
Monday 8 January
2018
Baptism of The Lord.
Isaiah
55:1-11. Isaiah 12:2-6. 1 John 5:19. Mark 1:7-11.
You will
draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation—Isaiah 12:2-6.
Today’s
gospel depicts an image of the Trinity at a most significant moment in Jesus’
life, his baptism.
Jesus is called ‘Son’ and
‘Beloved’. The first reading tells of the riches of God’s love.
Our response is free, but we are
reminded to ‘seek the Lord while he is still to be found’, and that God’s ways
are not our ways. It also speaks of the invincible power of God’s word.
The second reading reminds us that
we, too, can be children of God in Jesus. It reminds us of what loving God
really means.
Thank you, Lord, for all that your
words tell us. Thank you for the wonderful example of St John the Baptist. Help
us to be open to your presence in our daily life, and to put you always first
in our thoughts and actions.
LECTIO DIVINA: THE BAPTISM OF
THE LORD (B)
Lectio Divina:
Monday, January 8, 2018
Immersed in Christ, aware of the gift
received,
sent into the world
Mark 1:7-11
sent into the world
Mark 1:7-11
1. Opening prayer
Holy Spirit, you who breathed on the waters of creation and guided the steps of Moses in the desert, come today upon us and immerse us in you, so that our every step and thought may be directed towards Christ as we listen to his Word.
Dwell within us, Spirit of the Father, and guide us to the truth of ourselves and to the knowledge of the Son of God who redeems us and makes us one with him, so that the Father may be well pleased with us too. Amen.
Holy Spirit, you who breathed on the waters of creation and guided the steps of Moses in the desert, come today upon us and immerse us in you, so that our every step and thought may be directed towards Christ as we listen to his Word.
Dwell within us, Spirit of the Father, and guide us to the truth of ourselves and to the knowledge of the Son of God who redeems us and makes us one with him, so that the Father may be well pleased with us too. Amen.
2. The Gospel
a) A key to the reading:
Even Christ, in his human journey, had to gradually grow in the knowledge of his identity and of the task, in human history, entrusted to him by the Father.
The baptism in the Jordan marks this growing in awareness and launches Jesus beyond the borders of his land, Galilee, into a universal mission and into a dimension where he shares the human condition, until then unimaginable for him and for his prophets: it is God himself who "descends" to be by the side of human beings, even though aware of their weaknesses, to allow them to "climb" to the Father and give them access to communion with Him. The "pleasure" of the Father that Jesus hears in the Spirit will go with him always on his earthly journey, making him constantly aware of the joyful love of Him who sent him into the world.
Even Christ, in his human journey, had to gradually grow in the knowledge of his identity and of the task, in human history, entrusted to him by the Father.
The baptism in the Jordan marks this growing in awareness and launches Jesus beyond the borders of his land, Galilee, into a universal mission and into a dimension where he shares the human condition, until then unimaginable for him and for his prophets: it is God himself who "descends" to be by the side of human beings, even though aware of their weaknesses, to allow them to "climb" to the Father and give them access to communion with Him. The "pleasure" of the Father that Jesus hears in the Spirit will go with him always on his earthly journey, making him constantly aware of the joyful love of Him who sent him into the world.
b) The test:
7 In the course of his preaching John said, 'After me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'
9 It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. 10 And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.'
7 In the course of his preaching John said, 'After me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. 8 I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'
9 It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. 10 And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.'
3. A time of silence,
interior as well as exterior, to open
our hearts and allow space for the Word of God to enter into us.
4. The Word given to us:
* The baptism: purification rites by means of bathing or ablutions
were quite common as a daily practice among the Jews at the time of Jesus (cf
Mk 7:1-4), also among the Essenes of Qumran.
The word baptism indicates a bath, a complete immersion in water, and comes from the verb baptizo, rarely used in the Greek Old Testament because of a negative nuance in its meaning: immerse, submerge, annihilate (by drowning or sinking in water). The only time we do not find this negative note is in 2Kings 5:14: the healing of Naaman, which comes about by means of a series of baths in the Jordan at the command of Elisha. It is from this event that the positive use of the word comes in later times.
The word baptism indicates a bath, a complete immersion in water, and comes from the verb baptizo, rarely used in the Greek Old Testament because of a negative nuance in its meaning: immerse, submerge, annihilate (by drowning or sinking in water). The only time we do not find this negative note is in 2Kings 5:14: the healing of Naaman, which comes about by means of a series of baths in the Jordan at the command of Elisha. It is from this event that the positive use of the word comes in later times.
* The baptism of John: is characteristic of the practice (so much so that
it becomes known by his name (cf Mk 1:4). It takes up existing practices and
adds some new ones. John works in an unnamed place along the Jordan and
baptizes in the flowing water of the river, not in specified places and in
waters prepared for the rite. The conversion and penance demanded by him (Mk
1:4) are more on the moral than on the ritual level (cf Lk 3:8) and the rite,
which signified such an existential change (bath and confession of sins), took
place only once in a lifetime. Moreover, John clearly says that his baptism is
only the preparation for a more radical purifying event, directly connected
with the final judgment of God: "baptism in the spirit" and "in
fire" (cf Mk 1:7-8, Mt 1:2-3).
The people of Judea and Jerusalem greatly welcomed John’s preaching, so much so that large crowds went to him to be baptized (Mk 1:5), as Joseph Flavius also narrates: it is the evident realisation of the prophetic word recalled by Mark in 1:2-3.
The people of Judea and Jerusalem greatly welcomed John’s preaching, so much so that large crowds went to him to be baptized (Mk 1:5), as Joseph Flavius also narrates: it is the evident realisation of the prophetic word recalled by Mark in 1:2-3.
* Jesus and John at the Jordan: John knows quite well that he is not the Messiah and
to be very inferior in dignity to him, and yet he is called to prepare for his
now imminent coming (Mk 1:7-8). All the Gospels speak of this awareness,
emphasised by the use of the verb in the past for his baptism and in the future
for the baptism of the Messiah. This reflects the care that the first Christian
communities took to show that Christian baptism was superior to John’s baptism,
as also Jesus, the Christ, was superior to John the Baptist (cf Mk 3:14; Jn
1:26-34).
* Baptism in the Spirit: it is the eschatological baptism promised by the
prophets (cf Joel 3:1-5), connected with the fire of the judgment or also under
the form of sprinkling (cf Ez 36:25). Jesus receives this baptism soon after
and his baptism will be the source and model of the baptism of the Christians.
Thus the Christian community is founded on the gift of the Holy Spirit.
* Jesus came from Nazareth: Jesus stands out among the great crowd of Jewish penitents
(cf Mk1:5), because he comes from an area where only echoes of the penitential
preaching of the Baptist had reached, Galilee (Mk 1:9). For Mark this is an
important place: Jesus begins his activities there and is well received; after
Easter, it is there that the disciples meet him (16:7) and understand him fully
and it is from there that they will leave for their mission (16:20). In the
light of what Mark says immediately after the voice from heaven, Jesus is not
only "stronger" than John, but has a nature far superior to that of
John. And yet he went down among those who admitted being sinners, without
being afraid of suffering any diminution of his dignity (cf Phil 2:6-7); he is
"the light that shines in the darkness" (cf Jn 1:5).
The second Gospel does not report the reasons for which Jesus goes to receive the baptism of penance, even though the event is one of the most historically reliable among those narrated in the Gospels. What primarily interests the Evangelist is the divine revelation that comes after the baptism of Jesus.
The second Gospel does not report the reasons for which Jesus goes to receive the baptism of penance, even though the event is one of the most historically reliable among those narrated in the Gospels. What primarily interests the Evangelist is the divine revelation that comes after the baptism of Jesus.
* He saw the heavens torn apart: this is not a kind of special revelation for Jesus
alone. The heavens, literally, "rip themselves open", in answer to
Isaiah’s invocation: "If you would tear the heavens open and come
down" (Is 63:19b). Thus, after a time of separation, a completely new
phase begins in the communication between God and humankind: this new
relationship is confirmed and becomes definitive with the redemptive death of
Jesus, when the veil of the Temple was "torn" (cf Mk 15:38) as though
a hand from heaven had struck it. Besides, the Easter of the death and
resurrection is the "baptism wished for" by Jesus (cf Lk 12:50).
* The Spirit descending on him: Jesus "ascends" from the water of the
river and immediately after, the heavens open and the Spirit
"descends" and rests on him. While from now on the period of waiting
for the Spirit is over and the direct way that unites God and humankind is
reopened, Mark shows that Jesus is the only possessor of the Spirit who consecrates
him Messiah, makes him fully aware of being God-Son, dwells in him and sustains
him in the mission willed by the Father.
According to Mark, the Spirit glides over Jesus like a dove. We meet the dove in the story of Noah and the dove is also connected to the waters and the work of God in the world (cf Gen 8:8-12). Elsewhere, the dove is used as a reminder of fidelity and thus of the permanence of the gift, for its faithfulness in returning to the place from which it departed (cf Ct 2:14; Jn 1:33-34). The Spirit rests permanently on Jesus and takes possession of him. In this passage of Mark we could also see a reference to the "breathing of the spirit of God over the waters" of creation (Gen 1:2). With Jesus, a "new creation" really begins (cf Mt 19:38; 2Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15).
According to Mark, the Spirit glides over Jesus like a dove. We meet the dove in the story of Noah and the dove is also connected to the waters and the work of God in the world (cf Gen 8:8-12). Elsewhere, the dove is used as a reminder of fidelity and thus of the permanence of the gift, for its faithfulness in returning to the place from which it departed (cf Ct 2:14; Jn 1:33-34). The Spirit rests permanently on Jesus and takes possession of him. In this passage of Mark we could also see a reference to the "breathing of the spirit of God over the waters" of creation (Gen 1:2). With Jesus, a "new creation" really begins (cf Mt 19:38; 2Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15).
* A voice came from heaven: with the coming of Jesus, communication between God
and humankind is restored. It is not a matter of what the rabbis called
"the daughter of the voice", an incomplete substitution of the
prophetic word, but a matter of direct communication between Father and Son.
* Came…saw descending…was heard: we must admire the condescension of the Trinity that
"stoops down" towards humankind, descends to the
Jordan in Jesus to be baptised like so many sinners, descends upon
Jesus in the Spirit for the sake of his self-awareness and his mission
and descends in the voice of the Father to confirm his
sonship.
* You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour
rests on you: Mark may have deliberately wanted to
recall several passages of the Old Testament in order to emphasise, at least by
allusion, the importance of the many nuances of the divine words.
First of all, we recall Isaiah 42: 1 " Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations". It is JHWH whom introduces his faithful servant. Here, however, the title of "servant" is not used but that of "son", weaving the prophetic text with a psalm of royal and messianic investiture: "He has told me, ‘You are my son, today I have become your father’" (Ps 2:7). The Evangelist (as also the other synoptic) thus allows the nature of the human-divine identity of Jesus to appear – and his mission.
First of all, we recall Isaiah 42: 1 " Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations". It is JHWH whom introduces his faithful servant. Here, however, the title of "servant" is not used but that of "son", weaving the prophetic text with a psalm of royal and messianic investiture: "He has told me, ‘You are my son, today I have become your father’" (Ps 2:7). The Evangelist (as also the other synoptic) thus allows the nature of the human-divine identity of Jesus to appear – and his mission.
* You are my Son, the Beloved: In the light of the Paschal faith, Mark could
certainly not have meant this revelation as that God was adopting the man
Jesus. The voice from heaven is a confirmation of a special relationship
already in existence between Jesus and the Father. The title Son of God is
attributed to Jesus in the very first verse of Mark and again at the end of the
passion when the centurion says, "In truth this man was a son of God"
(Mk 1:1; 15:39). However, this title recurs in various forms and frequently (cf
3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 14:61). For Mark, the title "Son of God" is specially
relevant for an understanding of the person of Jesus and for a full profession
of faith; it is so important, that eventually it was the proper name given to
Jesus by Christians, by which they meant to proclaim the essential elements of
their own faith in Him (cf Rom 1:4): the Messiah king, the eschatological
saviour, the man who had a special relationship with the divine, the one risen
from the dead, the second Person of the Trinity.
The fact that the voice from heaven calls him "chosen", "beloved" (as will be repeated at the Transfiguration in 5:7 and 12:6) emphasises the completely unique relationship of the Father with Jesus, so special that it overshadows the other relationships between human beings and God, even the privileged ones. Jacob too, like Jesus, is the "only and chosen" son (cf Gen 22:2) and he is not spared the agony of a violent death (cf Heb 5:7).
The fact that the voice from heaven calls him "chosen", "beloved" (as will be repeated at the Transfiguration in 5:7 and 12:6) emphasises the completely unique relationship of the Father with Jesus, so special that it overshadows the other relationships between human beings and God, even the privileged ones. Jacob too, like Jesus, is the "only and chosen" son (cf Gen 22:2) and he is not spared the agony of a violent death (cf Heb 5:7).
* My favour rests on you: these words emphasise yet once more the messianic
election of Jesus, fruit of the Father’s benevolence that thus shows his
absolute preference for the Son in whom he finds joy and satisfaction (cf Is
42:1), while Jesus, obedient to the Father, begins his mission of bringing
humanity back to the Father (cf Mk 1:38).
5. A few questions
to give our reflection and actions
direction:
a) Like us, Jesus lives a stage in life,
he goes from the "hidden life" to his "public life". We are
passing from the Christmas season to "ordinary" time. These are the
times for us to realise our mission, which consists in our daily commitment
(often hard and usually dry) to express in life our awareness that God
the Son is with us as our brother and saviour, by using the gifts received
in baptism. Am I aware of the mission entrusted to me by the Father? Am
I able to express this mission in my everyday life or do I limit myself to
special occasions?
b) Our baptism made us "children of God in the Son". God is also well pleased with us and we too are his "chosen" (cf 1Jn 2, 7, 3, 2:21, etc.). Am I aware of the love with which the Father looks at me and relates to me? Am I able to respond to this love with the simplicity and docility of Jesus?
c) Our passage contains a manifestation of the Trinity in action. The Spirit descends upon Jesus, the Father speaks to his Son and thus opens a new way of communicating with us human beings. How is my prayer? To whom do I usually pray? Do I remember that I too am "immersed" in the Trinity and that for me too "the heavens tear themselves open"?
b) Our baptism made us "children of God in the Son". God is also well pleased with us and we too are his "chosen" (cf 1Jn 2, 7, 3, 2:21, etc.). Am I aware of the love with which the Father looks at me and relates to me? Am I able to respond to this love with the simplicity and docility of Jesus?
c) Our passage contains a manifestation of the Trinity in action. The Spirit descends upon Jesus, the Father speaks to his Son and thus opens a new way of communicating with us human beings. How is my prayer? To whom do I usually pray? Do I remember that I too am "immersed" in the Trinity and that for me too "the heavens tear themselves open"?
6. Psalm 20
Let us pray this Psalm, aware of being
chosen by the Father and that the Father is by our side always with great
tenderness of heart.
The Lord answer you in the day of
trouble!
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and give you support from Zion!
May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favour your burnt sacrifices!
May he grant you your heart's desire,
and fulfil all your plans!
May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfil all your petitions!
Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
Some boast of chariots, and some of horses;
but we boast of the name of the Lord our God.
They will collapse and fall;
but we shall rise and stand upright.
Give victory to the king, O Lord;
answer us when we call.
The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
May he send you help from the sanctuary,
and give you support from Zion!
May he remember all your offerings,
and regard with favour your burnt sacrifices!
May he grant you your heart's desire,
and fulfil all your plans!
May we shout for joy over your victory,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfil all your petitions!
Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with mighty victories by his right hand.
Some boast of chariots, and some of horses;
but we boast of the name of the Lord our God.
They will collapse and fall;
but we shall rise and stand upright.
Give victory to the king, O Lord;
answer us when we call.
7. Closing prayer
The liturgical context is excellent for
an understanding and for praying this Gospel. We, therefore, take up the
preface to convey our prayer to God:
Father, in Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, you worked signs and wonders
to manifest the mystery of the new washing (our baptism).
Your voice was heard from heaven
to awaken faith in the presence among us
of the Word made man.
Your Spirit was seen as a dove resting upon him
and consecrated your Servant
with priestly, prophetic and royal anointing,
so that all would recognise him as the Messiah,
sent to bring to the poor
the good news of salvation.
Grant that we may thank and glorify you
for this priceless gift,
for having sent to us your Son, our brother and teacher.
Let your kind gaze rest upon us
and grant that we may bring you joy in all our actions,
Forever and ever.
Father, in Christ’s baptism in the Jordan, you worked signs and wonders
to manifest the mystery of the new washing (our baptism).
Your voice was heard from heaven
to awaken faith in the presence among us
of the Word made man.
Your Spirit was seen as a dove resting upon him
and consecrated your Servant
with priestly, prophetic and royal anointing,
so that all would recognise him as the Messiah,
sent to bring to the poor
the good news of salvation.
Grant that we may thank and glorify you
for this priceless gift,
for having sent to us your Son, our brother and teacher.
Let your kind gaze rest upon us
and grant that we may bring you joy in all our actions,
Forever and ever.
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