Good News Reflection FOR NEXT SUNDAY: January 9, 2011

Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: January 9, 2011
The Baptism of the Lord

Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA:
For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,
please go to Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/calendar/January/BaptismLord.htm - Preview a sample

Next Sunday's Readings:
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Ps 29:1-4, 9-10 (with 11b)
Acts 10:34-38
Matt 3:13-17
http://www.usccb.org/nab/010911.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/11_01_09.mp3

Next Sunday 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. 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?

We have all 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. This is why children of chronically or terminally ill parents often grow up to become doctors and nurses, why those who escape from and recover from abuses often become ministers of healing for other victims, and why 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. Think of what you are doing with this calling: Our Father is very pleased with you!

(For a series of ministry discernment self-assessment tests, see "The Master Needs You" at http://wordbytes.org/ministry/discern or download the e-book "Knowing God's Will and Doing it Well" published by Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/ebooks/GodsWill.htm.)

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What is the Holy Spirit doing in you that's pleasing to the Father? What will you do to give this Spirit the freedom to continue Christ's ministry in your world – in your home, your workplace, your parish, your community – wherever you live, work and play?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Choose one line from Isaiah's scripture and explain how this describes your life in Christ. Take turns sharing on this until all verses have been covered.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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