The Roman Catholic Lectionary for the celebration of the Baptism
of the Lord, today, offers two sets of readings to accompany the Gospel from Saint
Luke. Luke is a learned Gentile writing the Gospel for a Gentile audience. He
proclaims the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven for all people as Jesus is
proclaimed by the Father, through the Holy Spirit, to be Son. The Gospel today
concludes with this image of the Baptism of Jesus. The role of John the Baptist
has been to prepare the way for Jesus and to proclaim that Jesus will cleanse
and minister through the Holy Spirit and fire. The Baptist decreases his
influence and welcomes the One of God. This change from God who is distant to
God in the flesh can be disconcerting when we focus on our unworthy state. The
text from the Letter of Paul to Titus reminds us that the Christians of Crete needed
to battle impiety, worldly passion and seek self control and redemption just as
we today. The apprehension of God present with the Holy Spirit and fire needs
to be balanced by the picture of God praised by the psalmist. The Omnipotent Creator
and Master of the Universe gives and sustains life in the least of His Creation.
The image of God coming to His people from the Prophet Isaiah is the Shepherd
who feeds the flock and carries lambs in His arms. The Church formally
concludes the Christmas season today. Bishop Gregor reflecting on the passage
from Titus at Christmas time prays that he (Jesus) be continually born in us, so that
in us too, his followers, the grace and the goodness and the loving kindness of
God are active for the renewal of the world.
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