11 Jan
Sun
Baptism of the Lord
Is 42:1-4,6-7
Ps. 29:1,2,3-4,9-10
Acts 10:34-38
Lk. 3:15-16,21-22
(Psalter proper)
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Jesus is about to begin his mission to inaugurate the Kingdom or the Reign of God among us. He goes to the Jordan River and is baptised by His cousin John. But, at that very moment, the Spirit of the Father is poured out on him and a voice is heard giving God's full endorsement to his Son. What the Son does now is done in the name of and by the power of the Father. And what is his mission? To be the light of nations living in darkness, to open the eyes of those who cannot see, to liberate all those who are in captivity of any kind. In other words, to give us the vision to see clearly how God wants us to live our lives in love and service and enabling us to do so in total freedom.

Elsewhere, Paul the Apostle stresses the same point: 'Once you were darkness but now you are light in the Lord . . . learn what is pleasing to the Lord. We will act differently; better now because we have new life in Christ' (Eph. 5:8-10). Surely we have been drawn to Christ and have made our promises at baptism to live the life we want in Christ.

Have we fulfilled those promises? We wanted Christ's way of life that leads to eternal life. Have we tried to learn and do what is pleasing to the Lord?



May we, Lord, always remain faithful to the commitments we made in Baptism to be faithful in loving, serving and following You in all we do and say.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That all men and women may recognise that they are members of God's one family and end wars, injustice and discrimination among themselves.
Elaboration

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