The Baptism of the Lord, Cycle C January 13, 2019

First Reading
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11 (The first reading from Cycle A may also be chosen,
Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7.)
Isaiah tells the people to prepare a way for the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 104:1b-4,24-25,27-30 (The psalm from Cycle A may also be chosen,
Psalm 29:1-2,3-4,9-10.)
A prayer praising God's greatness

Second Reading
Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 (The second reading from Cycle A may also be chosen,
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38.)
Jesus Christ saved us and renewed us with his Holy Spirit.

Gospel Reading
Luke 3:15-16,21-22
Jesus is baptized by John.

The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether 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."


Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In today's
Gospel, as in the other Gospel accounts of Jesus' baptism, we hear John
the Baptist address the confusion of the people who thought that John
might be the Messiah. In response, John contrasts the baptism that he
performs with the Baptism that Jesus will inaugurate. John the Baptist
says that he has baptized with water, but that someone will come and
baptize with the Holy Spirit. The type of baptism that John performed was
not yet a Christian Baptism; it was a preparation for Christian Baptism
through which sins are forgiven and the gift of the Holy Spirit is
received.

The baptism of Jesus is reported in each of the three Synoptic
Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Clearly, it was an event of great
significance for Jesus and for the early Christian community. The
Evangelists Mark and Luke report the story from Jesus' perspective; the
voice from heaven is addressed to Jesus. Compare this to Matthew's Gospel
in which the voice from heaven speaks to everyone. In Luke, however, the
Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus during his time of prayer after his
baptism. Through his Gospel, Luke will show Jesus to be a person of prayer
who withdraws regularly from the crowds and his disciples to pray to his
Father.

The baptism of Jesus is considered a manifestation of God in Jesus,
another “epiphany.” On this, the last day of the Christmas season, our
Gospel reveals to us Jesus' relation to God: the son of Mary and Joseph is
also God's own Son. In Luke's Gospel, all three members of the Trinity are
manifested here: God the Father in the voice, the Holy Spirit descending,
and Jesus the Son. At the beginning of his Gospel, Luke is communicating
to us important information about the identity of Jesus. In the verses
that follow, Luke lists the genealogy of Jesus, tracing Jesus' ancestry
back to the first person, Adam, who is also identified as the son of God.
We, the children of Adam and Eve, are again made children of God through
Baptism.


Family Connection

Every family has a unique identity that is defined by the behaviors,
attitudes, and expectations that govern a family's daily life. This
identity is influenced by the family history of the parents, but each
family's expression of this history is unique. In today's Gospel, we learn
that Jesus' behavior, attitudes, and expectations were governed by his
identity as God's beloved Son. In our Baptism, we were made children of
this same heavenly Father. This identity as members of the family of God,
and as brothers and sisters of Jesus, also shapes our family's daily life.

As you gather as a family, identify some of the expectations and behaviors
that govern your family life by answering the question, “What are some of
the things that make our family life unique?” Celebrate these things about
your family life. Read today's Gospel, Luke 3:15-16,21-22. Observe that
Jesus' identity as the Beloved Son of the Father governed his behaviors,
attitudes, and expectations. Recall that at our Baptism we were made
children of this same heavenly Father. How does this identity as a member
of the family of God govern and shape our family life? Conclude in prayer
together that we will remain faithful to our baptismal identity as
children of God and as brothers or sisters of Jesus. Conclude by praying
together the Lord's Prayer.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings