THE WORD
FIRST READING
Is 42: 1–4.6–7
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.
SECOND READING
Acts 10: 34–38
Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “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.
GOSPEL READING
Lk 3, 15-16.21-22
Now the people were fi lled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fi re.”
After 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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a good occasion for us to remember and appreciate our own baptism.
There are three sacraments that impart an indelible and permanent mark on our soul: baptism,
confirmation and the priesthood. This simply means that even if we do not live up to the responsibilities and consequences of these sacraments, the seal or character remains. Catholics who join Islam remain Catholic at heart. Priests who marry remain priests in their soul.
With regard to baptism, there is a modern way of explaining its permanent character. I see baptism as a sacrament that brands the soul permanently. This means that baptized Christians are BRANDED! Nowadays when one speaks of “branded” s/he means that a product has a “signature”. Branded products are not sold on the sidewalks of Baclaran and Divisoria. They are sold in high-class malls.
Goods with signature are expensive, durable, comfortable to use, pleasant to see and to show. People who can afford, buy branded products because of their high QUALITY.
Baptized Christians are branded beings. No less than the unity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit has been imprinted permanently in our soul. Our brand is the Holy Trinity, the fullness of God. Christians cannot be cheap or live like un-branded “products”. So the questions asked of us on this Solemnity of the baptism of the Lord may apty be these: “Do we live the BRAND of our baptism? Do others perceive, through our actions, that we live quality life? Do they see that our brand is that of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?”
- Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD | DWST, TagaytayCity
The Word in other words 2016
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
