MONday 09 January

The Baptism of the Lord

Feast, Psalter proper

SAINT Adrian, Abbot

Born in Africa, Adrian became abbot of the monastery at Nerida, near Naples. He died on January 9 in Canterbury, and his tomb soon became famous for the miracles wrought there.

Entrance Antiphon : Cf. Mt 3: 16-17

After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

Collect

Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading : Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7

Thus says the Lord: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame. Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver, nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth, for the islands are awaiting his law. I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; I have taken you by the hand and formed you; I have appointed you as 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.

Psalm 28(29):1-4,9-10

R/ The Lord will bless his people with peace.

O give the Lord, you sons of God, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name. Adore the Lord in his holy court.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters, the Lord on the immensity of waters; the voice of the Lord, full of power, the voice of the Lord, full of splendour.

The God of glory thunders. In his temple they all cry: ‘Glory!’ The Lord sat enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits as king for ever.

Gospel Acclamation: cf. Mk 9:8

Alléluia, alléluia! The heavens opened and the Father’s voice resounded: ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him Alléluia.

Gospel : Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. “It is I who need baptism from you”, he said, “and yet you come to me!” But Jesus replied, “Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.” At this, John gave in to him. 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.”

Prayer over the Offerings 

Accept, O Lord, the offerings we have brought to honour the revealing of your beloved Son, so that the oblation of your faithful may be transformed into the sacrifice of him who willed in his compassion to wash away the sins of the world. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever

Communion Antiphon: Jn 1: 32, 34

Behold the One of whom John said: I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.

Prayer after Communion

Nourished with these sacred gifts, we humbly entreat your mercy, O Lord, that, faithfully listening to your Only Begotten Son, we may be your children in name and in truth. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

Today, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. This marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. It is also the transition to the public ministry of Jesus. The Baptism of the Lord is indeed a visible and audible manifestation that announces with excellence the divinity of Jesus to his first disciples, as it does to us today. Therefore, we are invited to meditate on the words of the Father who speaks to us of the divinity of his Son: “This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him”. Let us radically choose to follow Christ, who leads us to the Father in this Ordinary Time.