The Baptism of the Lord
The Baptism of the Lord signifies the culmination of St. John the Baptist’s mission, and was ordained by the Father as the occasion for Christ to be manifested to the world as the Son of God.
See also:
Mass Readings
First Reading – 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: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins. A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 (R.11b)
R. 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 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 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.
OR: Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30
R. (1) O bless the Lord, my soul.
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
you are clothed with majesty and glory,
robed in light as with a cloak.
You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth; R.
You have constructed your palace upon the waters.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you travel on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
and flaming fire your ministers. R.
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you have wrought them all–
the earth is full of your creatures;
the sea also, great and wide,
in which are schools without number
of living things both small and great. R.
They look to you to give them food in due time.
When you give it to them, they gather it;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. R.
If you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth. R.
Second Reading – 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.”
OR: Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Beloved: The grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good. When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
Gospel – Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. 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 fire.” 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.”
Featured Saints
St. Marguarite Bourgeoys, virgin (†1700). Memorial in Canada. Born in Troyes, France. As a young woman she felt called to consecrate her life to God and to travel to Canada to evangelize among the native Indians and settlers, where there was great need. In Montreal, she she founded the Sisters of Notre-Dame to carry out this work.
St. Martin of the Holy Cross, priest (†1203). Canon Regular of León, Spain, he was very well versed in Sacred Scripture and celebrated for his ascetical writings.
St. Anthony Maria Pucci, priest (†1892). He entered the Servite Order and until the end of his life he dedicated himself heroically to the salvation of souls as a parish priest in Viaregio (Italy).
St. Benedict Biscop, abbot (†c. 690). He aimed at increasing the knowledge of the science of the love of Christ of the religious of the monastery of Wearmouth, England.
St. Aelred, abbot (†circa 1166). He left the court of the King David of Scotland to enter the Cistercian Order. He became abbot of Revesby and Rielvaux Monasteries.
St. Bernard of Corleone, religious (†1667). After a troubled youth, he became a Capuchin in Caltanisetta, Italy, and an outstanding devotee of the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin.
St. Arcadius, martyr (†circa 304). Died after torture in Caesarea in Mauritania, Algeria, for refusing to sacrifice to idols.
Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung, priest and martyr (†1944). Imprisoned during the persecution in Thailand, he died of a contagious disease contracted while aiding the sick in prison.
Image gallery
Image gallery
