MASS READINGS & SAINT QUOTE OF THE DAY : Monday - January 09, 2023

Monday - January 09, 2023

"Every piece of my flesh and every drop of my blood 

tell you that I am a Christian."

 

--St. Chi Zhuzi

January 9, 2023

The Baptism of the Lord

Lectionary: 21

 

Reading I     

                                                                                    Is 42:1-4, 6-7

 

Thus says the LORD:

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

     my chosen one with whom I am pleased,

upon whom I have put my spirit;

     he shall bring forth justice to the nations,

not crying out, not shouting,

     not making his voice heard in the street.

A bruised reed he shall not break,

     and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,

until he establishes justice on the earth;

     the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

 

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,

     I have grasped you by the hand;

I formed you, and set you

     as a covenant of the people,

     a light for the nations,

to open the eyes of the blind,

     to bring out prisoners from confinement,

     and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

 

OR:

 

Acts 10:34-38

 

Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered

in the house of Cornelius, saying:

“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.

Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly

is acceptable to him.

You know the word that he sent to the Israelites

as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,

what has happened all over Judea,

beginning in Galilee after the baptism

that John preached,

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and power.

He went about doing good

and healing all those oppressed by the devil,

for God was with him.”

 

Responsorial Psalm                                  Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

 

R. (11b)  The Lord will bless his people with peace.

 

Give to the LORD, you sons of God,

            give to the LORD glory and praise,

Give to the LORD the glory due his name;

            adore the LORD in holy attire.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

 

The voice of the LORD is over the waters,

            the LORD, over vast waters.

The voice of the LORD is mighty;

            the voice of the LORD is majestic.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

 

The God of glory thunders,

            and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The LORD is enthroned above the flood;

            the LORD is enthroned as king forever.

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

 

Alleluia                                             

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:

This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

R. Alleluia

 

Gospel                                                           Mt 3:13-17

 

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan

to be baptized by him.

John tried to prevent him, saying,

“I need to be baptized by you,

and yet you are coming to me?”

Jesus said to him in reply,

“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us

to fulfill all righteousness.”

Then he allowed him.

After Jesus was baptized,

he came up from the water and behold,

the heavens were opened for him,

and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove

and coming upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, saying,

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

 

**********************************

Baptized into Ministry

Today we celebrate the “initiation rite” that launched Jesus’ public ministry. We, too, have experienced this same Baptism: Our first Sacrament of Initiation immersed us into the life of Christ. The other two Initiation Sacraments — Confirmation and Communion — confirm this holy life and empower us to live it in union with Christ. Thus says the Lord God about you: “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit….” (see the reading from Isaiah).

 

What is this Spirit doing in you that is pleasing to the Father? How is this Spirit serving the kingdom of God through you? Are you giving this Spirit the freedom to continue Christ’s ministry in today’s world?

 

All Christians have been baptized into the ministry of Christ, but it’s the hardships we endure and the passions we feel that initiate us into our own particular areas of ministry. For example, children of chronically or terminally ill parents often grow up to become doctors and nurses, and many who escape and recover from abuses often become ministers of healing for other victims, and workers who suffer from unjust employers often start their own businesses and create jobs where the staff is treated the way Christ should be treated.

 

Whatever we feel passionate about, we have received this energy from the Passion of Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism.

 

Then, if we celebrate Mass consciously, paying attention to the true meaning of the Eucharist, our calling to ministry is renewed in the Sacrament of Communion, because Christ who is the Eucharist reunites us to his ministry. Thus, we can change the world, just as Christ did, one day at a time.

 

For this, you have been chosen by the Father. Whatever you are doing because of this calling, our Father is very pleased with you!

 

Today's Prayer

 

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for revealing to us our Father’s love when we are obedient and humble. Amen.

 

 

God Bless You.....

The Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”