Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: January 10, 2010
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Cycle C
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, 9-11
Acts 10:34-38
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
http://www.usccb.org/nab/011010.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_01_10.mp3
Next Sunday's readings are full of expectation. What are you waiting for? How do you need God to come and rescue you from injustices, or deliver you from evil, or comfort you as you wait for loved ones to turn their hearts back to God? What guidance have you been seeking yet still you feel confused and uncertain?
Do you feel Christ's gift of peace within you as you wait expectantly? Or frustrated, worried, and impatient?
In the Gospel reading, we see John the Baptizer's congregation filled with expectancy because they hoped that he was their finally-arrived Messiah. Yearning for God to intervene against injustices, foreign oppression, and sin, they latched onto the fiery enthusiasm of John and his baptism of repentance. Their excitement was based on personal impatience, not divine guidance.
God, however, had something much better in mind. The real Messiah would baptize with the purifying fire of the Holy Spirit. Whereas John could only call people to repentance, the real Messiah would empower them to grow in holiness by giving them his own Spirit of holiness.
When Jesus submitted himself to John's baptism, it was not because he needed to repent; he was sinless. He was uniting himself to OUR need for repentance, thus starting his ministry of delivering us from evil by taking our sins to the cross.
In Christian baptism, we are immersed into the holiness of Jesus and everything that came afterward: his ministry, his priesthood, his prophetic sharing of the Good News, his servant leadership, and yes, his sufferings for the benefit of the salvation of others. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do it and the Father says, "You are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased!"
What do you expect? What do you think should happen in your daily life because of your baptism? Expectation is a good attitude – unless it's based on impatience, which usually leads to disappointment. Expectation that's based on the goodness of God and what HE wants for us will never fail to provide more than we hope to receive.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
What would you like to expect from God this year? Is this something that he wants for you? How might things turn out differently – but better – than what you imagine should happen?
Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Name some of the baptismal promises that God makes in his covenant with us. How do know he keeps his promises? Share the story of a time when an answer to prayer turned out better than you expected.
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org
* To join and become a member, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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