Daily Gospel – Sunday, January 12, 2025 – Luke 3,15-16.21-22 – Catholic Bible

First Reading (Isaiah 42,1-4.6-7).

Reading the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Thus says the Lord: “Behold my servant – I receive him; behold my chosen one – my soul delights in him; I have put my spirit upon him, he will judge the nations. He does not cry out or lift up his voice, nor he makes it heard in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoking wick; but he will bring judgment to obtain the truth. teachings. I, the Lord, called you to righteousness and took you by the hand; I formed you and appointed you as the center of the covenant of the people, the light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to lead captives out of prison, to free them. from prison those who live in darkness.”

– Word of the Lord.

– Thank God.

Second Reading (Acts 10,34-38).

Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.

In those days, Peter took the floor and said: “Indeed, I understand that God does not distinguish between people. On the contrary, he accepts whoever fears him and practices righteousness, regardless of the nation to which he belongs. God sent his word to the Israelites and announced to them the Good News of peace, through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened in all of Judea, starting in Galilee, after the baptism preached by John: like Jesus. of Nazareth was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were dominated by the devil;

– Word of the Lord.

– Thank God

Gospel (Luke 3,15-16.21-22).

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke.

— Glory to you, Lord.

At that time, the people were in expectation and everyone wondered in their hearts whether John would not be the Messiah. Therefore, John declared to everyone: “I baptize you with water, but he who is stronger than I will come. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” When all the people were being baptized, Jesus also received baptism. And while he was praying, the sky opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in visible form, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.”

— Word of Salvation.

— Glory to you, Lord.

Reflecting the Word of God

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” These words, echoing from the heavens at the moment of Jesus’ baptism, mark a decisive moment in the history of salvation. Today, our readings invite us to contemplate the profound meaning of this event and its implications for our own lives.

In Isaiah, we find a powerful prophecy about the Servant of the Lord: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one, in whom I delight.” What an extraordinary parallel to the Father’s words at Jesus’ baptism! This is not a coincidence, but a divine confirmation that Jesus is truly that promised servant, awaited for generations.

But observe the characteristics of this servant: he will not shout, he will not break the bruised reed, he will not quench the smoldering wick. What a beautiful image of kindness and compassion! This is not a messiah who comes with overwhelming power, but with a quiet strength that restores and heals.

In the second reading, Peter has a transformative revelation: “Now I see that God makes no distinction between people, but accepts whoever fears him and does justice, regardless of the people he belongs to.” This is a revolutionary moment in the history of the early Church. Peter understands that baptism and God’s grace are not exclusive privileges for one people, but gifts offered to all humanity.

And then we come to the Gospel, where Luke presents us with the baptism of Jesus. The people were in expectation, questioning whether John would be the Messiah. John responds with humility and clarity: “I baptize you with water, but he who is stronger than I will come… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Reflect with me: why did Jesus, who had no sin, want to be baptized? This act of humility demonstrates his total identification with the humanity he came to save. At the moment of his baptism, Jesus is not just carrying out a ritual – he is beginning his public mission, assuming his role as the Suffering Servant prophesied by Isaiah.

The sky opens, the Holy Spirit descends in bodily form like a dove, and the Father’s voice proclaims his love and approval. This epiphanic moment reveals the Trinity in action: the Son in the water, the Spirit descending, the Father speaking from heaven.

But what does this mean for us today? First, our own baptism connects us deeply with this event. Through him, we are incorporated into the death and resurrection of Christ, receive the Holy Spirit, and are adopted as the Father’s beloved sons and daughters.

Second, as Peter discovered, God’s love knows no boundaries. Jesus’ baptism ushers in a new era where everyone is invited to be part of God’s family. Our cultural, social or ethnic differences are not barriers to divine grace.

Third, we are called to imitate the characteristics of the Servant described by Isaiah: kindness to the weak, perseverance in justice, light to those in darkness. Our mission is not to break the already injured, but to restore; It is not about extinguishing the last embers of hope, but about rekindling them.

My dear brothers and sisters, today we are invited to renew our baptismal commitment. As Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit for his mission, we were also anointed in baptism to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.

May we worthily live our baptismal vocation, bringing hope to the discouraged, strength to the weak, and God’s love to everyone we meet. And may the Holy Spirit who descended on Jesus in the Jordan continue to guide and strengthen us on our journey of faith.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.