Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missal January-February 2025

Baptism of the Lord (feast) (C)
proper

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Isaiah (Is 40:1-5, 9-11)
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and cry out to her that her warfare is ended, her guilt is expiated, because she has received from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins.” A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall become a plain, and the rough country a broad valley. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Go up onto a high mountain, you who bring good news to Zion! Lift up your voice with strength, you who bring good news to Jerusalem. Lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the cities of Judah: “Here is your God! Here comes the Lord God with power, his arm rules. Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” - The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the first reading

“Comfort, comfort my people.” Through the prophet Isaiah, God invites us to comfort his people and encourage them, because the Lord has not come to condemn but to save. It is time to prepare ourselves to meet him, to lower the hills of pride and arrogance and fill the ravines of fear and shame. It is time to prepare the way to meet the Lord, who comes to carry us in his arms as a shepherd does with his flock. It is a time of goodness and tenderness, encouragement and trust.

SECOND READING

From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Titus  (Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7)
My son, the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all and training us to reject godlessness and worldly desires and to live in this world with self-control, justice, and devotion, as we await the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. But when the kindness and generous love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, with water that brings rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, justified by his grace, we might become heirs in hope of eternal life. - The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the second reading

If in the first reading we were encouraged to look at life with trust and hope, Saint Paul reminds us that God's tenderness has a face and a name: Jesus Christ. From Jesus flows that “bath of rebirth” which is Baptism. It is a gift that does not reach us through our own merit, but solely through God's mercy, with water that brings rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit. This is the gift the Father has given us through his Son Jesus: to make us sharers in salvation. It is now up to us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, to learn from him to live according to the Gospel, to live as children of God.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 3:15-16, 21-22)
At that time, while the people were in expectation and all were wondering in their hearts whether John might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying: “I baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, whose sandal straps I am not worthy to untie. 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 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.” - The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

John the Baptist administered a baptism of repentance at the Jordan River, a gesture of humility before God. When Jesus arrives, he insists on being baptized too, thereby once again showing his desire to “lower himself” to reach every man and woman, beginning with the lowly and sinners. In this further lowering of himself, Jesus receives the gift of the Spirit while a voice from heaven says: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” If John the Baptist baptized with water, Jesus now baptizes in the Holy Spirit, making us sharers in the same mission he received from the heavenly Father. Through Baptism, we have all become dwelling places of the Holy Spirit; in Jesus, God now says to each of us: “You are my son, my beloved.” Each person can hear these words addressed to them and thus be confirmed in God's love. Every thought contrary to this does not come from God! May the Lord help us savor the beauty of this joy: knowing that we are loved by him and filled with every tenderness.