FIRST READING
“The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. ”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11)
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “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, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 104: lb-2.3-4.24-25.27-28.29-30 (R. 1)
R/. Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God,
how great you are!
O Lord my God, how great you are,
clothed in majesty and honour,
wrapped in light as with a robe!
You stretch out the heavens like a tent. R/.
On the waters you establish your dwelling.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you ride on the wings of the wind.
You make the winds your messengers,
flame and fire your servants. R/.
R/. Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God,
how great you are!
How many are your works,
O Lord! In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your creatures.
Vast and wide is the span of the sea,
with its creeping things past counting,
living things great and small. R/.
All of these look to you
to give them their food in due season.
You give it, they gather it up;
you open wide your hand, they are well filled. R/.
You hide your face, they are dismayed;
you take away their breath, they die,
returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, and they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth. R/.
SECOND READING
“He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (Titus 2:11-14; 3 :4-7)
Beloved: For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 3:16
Alleluia. John said: He who is coming is mightier than I; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“When Jesus had been baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 3:15-16.21-22)
At that time: As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered them all, “I baptise you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Now when all the people were baptised, and when Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
“Baptism is a sacrament that cleanses us from original sin, make us Christians, children of God and members of the church.” This definition has its origin in the baptism of Jesus himself. By joining the queue of sinners to be baptised, he identifies with sinners that he is sent to save; he becomes one with them. Hence when the father’s voice from heaven declares, “You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased,” the redeemed sinners also hear and become identified as God’s children of course, it is the action of the Holy Spirit that makes us members of the church. We can now see that it is all about us. Jesus’ baptism is an invitation to us to share in his life. To be part of his life, we are to renounce irreligion and worldly passions and prepare our lives well for his dwelling.