Texts taken from the “On Your Word” Missal January-February 2022

Baptism of the Lord (f) (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 proclaim to her that her tribulation is complete, 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 lifted up, 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 people together shall see it, because 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 up your voice, do not fear; proclaim 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 God.

Commentary on the first reading

At last, the time of punishment (the exile in Babylon) is over, and they can return home. It is a sort of new Exodus, this time more joyful, so much so that creation itself takes part in it to make the journey easier: the valleys are raised up, the hills are lowered, and the ravines are smoothed out. When repentant people return to God, everything sings. Hence the command God gives the prophet: “Go and comfort my people with this good news!” And how much the world needs to be comforted today! There is so much slavery and countless sorrows. But consolation does not consist in promising earthly goods, material rewards, or increased prosperity. It always consists in knowing that one is forgiven by God after having asked for forgiveness. When the Russian writer Dostoevsky was brought before the firing squad and, just moments before the execution, the sentence was suspended because of unforeseen circumstances, one of the condemned men went mad, while another’s hair turned completely white. “This is too great a joy for a man,” the writer commented. This, and much more, happens when one passes from sin to grace.

SECOND READING

From the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Titus (Tt 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 purify for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for humanity appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous deeds we had done, but because of his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, which 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 God.

Commentary on the second reading

Paul writes a letter to his beloved disciple Titus, whom he left as a young bishop on the island of Crete. The Apostle gives him many good recommendations and directives because, presumably, there was not yet a well-organized and structured Church there. Among the various practical recommendations, this doctrinal gem we read today suddenly appears and explains everything. Why must we behave according to the Gospel? Because Christ gave himself for us. Good deeds are always the consequence of encountering the risen Jesus, who lives in our hearts. And he lives in our hearts because he gave us the Holy Spirit: we have been baptized. Holiness, therefore, precedes every action, grounds it, and sustains it. There are saints who did nothing, yet converted thousands of people simply through their presence. An example? Saint Francis of Assisi: he was not a priest, he did not establish any charitable shelter, and he gave money to no one because he did not even have any himself. He simply gave God to souls, because God lived in him and could be seen. We could say: because he was baptized. And it showed.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 3:15-16, 21-22)
At that time, since the people were waiting expectantly and all were wondering in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying: “I baptize you with water; but one who is mightier than I is coming, and I am not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” And it happened that, when 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.” – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

The baptism of the Lord Jesus is one of the few episodes reported by all four evangelists. Even the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper is not narrated by all four, but only by three. The baptism must be very important if it deserves such attention. It is the great Trinitarian event that opens Jesus’ public life: the Father fills the Son with love, the Holy Spirit envelops him, and the Son enters the water to give the great sign of his mission: to stand in solidarity with sinners and pay the price of redemption for them. Let us note the Father’s words: they are expressions of love. Jesus, too, somehow “needs” them to face the terrible trial he is about to undertake: three years of hardship, preaching, opposition, and constant interaction with the people, culminating in the sacrifice of the cross. The Father’s love fills the heart, gives confidence and strength, helps one overcome many difficulties and sorrows, and makes one soar. Indeed, this is also true for us, because if we are in Christ, those words remain within us as well. “The Father himself loves you!” Jesus would later say. Thus, the event of the baptism is the great manifestation of God’s love; this is why it is so important.