HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD. (1)

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD.

THEME: And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him

BY: Fr. Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7
Psalm 28:1-4,9-10
Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE

*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. This day marks also the last day of the entire Christmas season in our liturgical calendar year A. Meaning tomorrow, we shall enter into the Ordinary Time.

*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading of today the prophet Isaiah presents the servant whom God uphold, the chosen one in whom His soul delights. Who has been endowed with His Spirit, that he may bring true justice to all the nations.
At the end of beautiful reading, the Lord is saying to each oneof us that, He has called us to serve the cause of the light. He has taken us by the hand and formed us. Finally he has appointed us as the new covenant of the people and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.

*FROM OUR SECOND READING*
In our second reading, we have heard how Peter adressed the house and family of Cornelius, telling them the truth, that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.
The reading continues to say, God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.

*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In this morning Gospel reading, we hear the account of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ according to saint Matthew. We are told that, as soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’

*CONCLUSION*
We are reminded today that, our baptism is as important a moment in our own lives as the baptism of Jesus was in his life. There are many similarities between Jesus’ baptism and our own baptism. At his baptism, the Spirit of God came down upon Jesus. At our own baptism, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit came down upon us. In the words of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, ‘God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts crying “Abba! Father!”’. Because of our baptism we became and continue to be ‘temples of the Spirit’. At Jesus’ baptism, God said of him, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him’. God spoke the same words to each one of us at the moment of our baptism. At our baptism, God favoured us; God looked upon each of us as favoured sons and daughters. God looks upon us as he looks upon his own Son; we are caught up into a share in Jesus’ own relationship with God. In becoming the beloved sons and daughters of God, at the same time we become the beloved brothers and sisters of Jesus, and the brothers and sisters of all those who have been baptized.

*SUNDAY BLESSINGS*
Let us all strive to draw ever closer to God and to remain firmly committed to walk the path towards His salvation and grace, fulfilling and ever being mindful of our baptismal promises.
The Lord be with You!

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