Opening Prayer

Lord, grant that I may see you more clearly,
love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly,
day by day.

Scripture

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the 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 Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Reflection

Jesus’ baptism by John in the River Jordan, despite being sinless, demonstrates His profound solidarity with humanity. By joining the ranks of repentant sinners, Jesus shows us that He is truly one with us in our human experience. This act of humility inspires us to embrace and support one another in our shared struggles and to recognize the presence of God in every person.

The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus during His baptism and the voice of the Father declaring, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased,” signify the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. This moment of divine affirmation and commissioning calls us to reflect on our own baptism as the start of our lifelong journey of faith. It encourages us to renew our commitment to live out our mission as followers of Christ, actively participating in the transformation and renewal of the world through acts of love, justice, and service.

Contemplation

I take a few moments to imagine the scene from the Gospel story I just read. I let the words come alive in my heart. I visualise the event as if I was there and part of the story. I pay attention to all the details, the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the smells, and the feelings of the event. I imagine myself as one of the characters in the scene or as myself present in the story. What message does Jesus have for me? How is God speaking to me personally through this story? I open my heart to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving

I ask God, the Father, to give me an intimate knowledge of the many gifts I have received,
so that filled with gratitude for all, I may in all things love and serve the Divine Majesty.

Fellow Pilgrims

Labour without stopping, do all the good works you can, while you still have the time.

Saint John of God (feast day)

Closing Prayer

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Amen.