Studies for the Baptism of the Lord – A – January 12, 2014

A Point of Revelation

Baptism is the foundational sacrament. It begins our life with Christ. It defines us as followers of the Christ. But it is so much more. The baptism of Jesus is a paradigm for our baptism and our life as Christians. When we were baptized, the Father spoke to us as his children and we received his Spirit.

BLOG LINK  What are your resolutions for this coming year?

MP3 PODCAST In this week's audio podcast, we discuss the question: why do we get baptized? The answer is found in THE baptismal event, the immersion of Jesus in the Jordan.

FIRST READING Isaiah 42 presents us with the image of YHWH's servant, the beloved who would rule by opening the eyes of the blind and free those who lived in darkness.

PSALM Psalm 29 praised God for his power, reflected in the forces of nature. His power is awe inspiring.

SECOND READING In the book of Acts, Peter declared the Christ to the house of Cornelius, the pagan centurion. Peter stated that God shows no partiality. Even a member of the occupying military was worthy of salvation.

GOSPEL Matthew's gospel portrayed the Baptism as a public event, fulfilling the will of God and revealing the Trinity.

CHILDREN'S READINGS In the story for the first reading, Tommy wrote a job description for a service project. Isaiah wrote a job description for the coming Messiah, one who would serve all peoples. In the story for the gospel, Gwen struggled with a very difficult pitch, the slider. One day, she mastered the pitch at a critical softball game. She “got it.” Like Gwen, Jesus “got it” at his baptism. He understood his mission, to reveal the Father to others and give them the Spirit.

CATECHISM LINK In this week's Catechism Link, we explore the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

FAMILY ACTIVITY Investigate the concepts of Spirit (breath and wind) with water with a “Breath Over the Water” contest.