Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missalette January-February 2024

Baptism of the Lord (feast) (B)
proper

FIRST READING

From the book of the prophet Isaiah (Is 55:1-11)
Thus says the Lord: “All you who are thirsty, come to the water; you who have no money, come, buy and eat; come, buy wine and milk without money, without cost. Why spend your money for what is not bread, your wages for what fails to satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good, and you will delight in rich food. Pay attention and come to me; listen, that you may have life. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the faithful favors promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander of nations. See, you shall summon nations you knew not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; let him return 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; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the first reading

It seems that going to God and converting to him must necessarily mean some great renunciation and penance, as though life in Christ were for sad people with long faces. But if God is love, how is this possible? God does not want our happiness only in Heaven, but also in the present time, today. Isaiah’s images often present lavishly prepared banquets, filled with every delight; his vision is echoed by the Gospel’s parable of the prodigal son, which speaks of meals and celebrations in honor of the young man who returned home. Let us not turn the Lord into a complainer: he is king and victor, and those who share in his life already live in his victory. Certainly, as long as we live on this earth there will be suffering, because there is sin and all its consequences, but in Christ even every suffering is transformed into a dance movement, because the Holy Spirit, who incorporates us into the new Covenant, speaks the new language of love. The forgiven person is humble and happy; it is sin that makes life heavy, lonely, and unbearable. The Lord wants his children always to live in joy. 

SECOND READING

From the first letter of the apostle Saint John  (1 Jn 5:1-9)
Beloved, everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God, and everyone who loves the parent loves 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 one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? He 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 that 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, God’s testimony is greater: and this is God’s testimony that he has testified on behalf of his Son. – The word of the Lord. 

Commentary on the second reading

Jesus came with blood and water, says John’s letter. Two liquids. Water gives life, so much so that without water the earth becomes arid, plants do not grow, and if he does not drink, a person dies within a few days. Blood is also a symbol of life: as long as blood flows regularly through our veins, everything is well; if, because of a serious wound, it pours abundantly out of the body, the person dies. Water enters from outside and gives life to the body; blood is inside the body, but it can be poured out. Jesus shed all his blood, that is, his life, sacrificing himself in the supreme act of love on the cross for us. The Holy Spirit, therefore, brings about this ineffable plan of the Father: he gives us the water of Baptism, which immerses us in eternal life, and each day he gives us the blood of Christ shed for the remission of sins. When a person is separated from God, he dies. God is the source of our life; we must be one with him because life exists only in him. God remains without man, but man without God is nothing. Come, let us immerse ourselves. Come, drink! 

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark (Mk 1:7-11)
At that time, John proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but 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.” – The Gospel of the Lord. 

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

Jesus’ baptism is an act of humility. He, the Savior, did not need to be baptized with a baptism of penance, because Jesus is the only one without sin. The Baptist rightly distinguishes between baptism in water and baptism in the Holy Spirit, and he is the first to marvel that Christ also wishes to enter the water and be baptized. God comes down to earth and places himself among sinners to reveal his mission: to save humanity by taking on its sin. The Jordan is the first part of Gethsemane, its anticipation. Jesus’ baptism is an act of obedience. The Father had asked him to descend into the water to begin his public mission, to reveal himself as Savior, and he does so. Immediately the Father acknowledges and confirms him, saying: “You are my beloved Son.” Jesus’ baptism is an act of penance affirming the character of spiritual combat inherent in Christian life: to become holy, a penitential life is necessary. Finally, it is an act of Trinitarian revelation: the Spirit descends, the Father speaks, the Son receives the Spirit and the Father’s word. The whole of God was present that day, the first great “vision” of the one and triune God.