SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, YEAR A

Readings: First: Is 42, 1-4, 6-7; Second: Acts 10, 34-38; Gospel: Mt 3, 13-17

Theme of the Readings

The action of the Holy Spirit is the key concept of the liturgy, an action concentrated on Jesus of Nazareth. During the baptism the Spirit appears like a dove that comes down on Jesus bringing blessing, power, and energy for the fulfillment of the mission (Gospel). The Father is the one who has made the Spirit descend on Jesus, his chosen servant with whom he is well pleased, to bring salvation on earth (First reading). Peter, in proposing the Christian kerygma to Cornelius and those of his household, begins by saying: "I refer to Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power" (Second reading).

Doctrinal Message

In the texts that the Church proposes for our reflection and faith, we are not told about the nature of the Spirit, but only about his efficacious action in the soul and work of Jesus of Nazareth.

The action of the Holy Spirit in Jesus after baptism produces marvelous effects. The first is signaled by the image of a dove, the symbol of wisdom, a wisdom that must realize minute by minute the plan of God in the person of Jesus and in history. The second is shown to us by the context: the spiritual energy that will be victorious over temptations and will execute the mission entrusted by the Father with courage and determination during the years of his public life until his passion and death on the cross. The third refers to the Father who, precisely because Jesus humbled himself becoming a servant and being baptized by John, proclaims him "my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," in whom the Father's Spirit rests so that he will bring salvation to the nations (First reading). In a word, the action of the Spirit is sapient, infusing strength for the mission, universal salvation.

The paths chosen by the Holy Spirit are astounding to our mind, which is altogether too human: obedience to what the Father wills that Jesus be baptized (Gospel); the proclamation of salvation with simplicity, without noise or fanfare (First reading); constancy in the labor of proclaiming and carrying out the saving action, "he will not weaken or falter (First reading); the dedication of his life to doing good, all kinds of good, but especially spiritual good, to free man from the power of the devil (Second reading).

Pastoral Suggestions

It is possible that in our communities there are faithful who are very sensitive to the presence and the action of the Holy Spirit, and even some who belong to charismatic groups recognized by the ecclesiastical authority. There can be, as well, faithful who have heard about this topic, without allowing it to make an impression on their faith and daily behavior. There might be others for whom the Holy Spirit is not even a person, but only a name or a symbol of the power of God. Lastly, there will be those who are completely unaware of the Holy Spirit in their daily life.

In preparation for the Great Jubilee, 1998 was dedicated to the Holy Spirit. This made it possible to awaken a greater interest in the teaching of the Church on the Spirit and a more personal and vital relation with his person. The liturgy of the Baptism of the Lord offers the opportunity to continue a catechesis on the relation between Baptism and the Spirit, especially on the effects of the Holy Spirit, received at Baptism, on the spiritual and moral life of Christians.

Through Baptism the Christian becomes a holy temple, a place in which the Spirit dwells and makes his presence felt among men. This means that, because of baptism, every Christian is like a portable monstrance of the Spirit. Are the faithful of your community or parish aware of this truth of our faith? It is not something dense or difficult to understand. It is simply the ABC of the Christian faith, but sometimes people forget the essential, lost as they are in the minutiae of daily living or suffering indigestion from excessive moralizing.

If, through grace, a Christian carries a Host within his soul, the least he can do is think about that Host every day, pay attention to him, listen to him and carry out his good counsels and gentle interior inspirations. We will have to think also that many others (dear ones, fellow workers, members of the party, neighbors, people on the train and bus) are also temples of the Spirit, whom we must respect and love with sincerity. This is not mysticism; it is simply living the most basic reality of our baptism.

It is quite likely that we might have seen the marvelous effects of the Holy Spirit on people in our parish or in members of communities among whom we do our pastoral work. No doubt there are no striking results, at least in the majority of cases, but sufficient evidence that other believers can see and admire. The creativity of the Spirit is infinite and, as a result, its effect on souls is extremely varied. What effects have you noticed with greater frequency among the faithful of your parish or community? Today is a good day to talk about them with simplicity and conviction.

Source: http://www.clerus.org/clerus/dati/2004-05/21-13/CICLOA.html by P. ANTONIO IZQUIERDO L.C. (1948-2013)

[참고: 이 파일은 저서명 "가톨릭 교회의 말씀 전례에 따른 성경공부 해설서"(엮은이: 소순태, 출판사: 가톨릭출판사)의 각주의 연장으로 마련되었습니다].