top of page

The Word today, Baptism

Updated: Mar 16


ree

January 13 - January 18, 2025


St Hilary, bishop and doctor


Hebrews 1:1-6 The rst four verses of this reading are really the introduction to Hebrews. It is a very rich opening, and nearly every word could be reected upon. The claims made about Jesus, a Galilean prophet executed by the Romans, are breath-taking.


Mark 1:14-20 We start today a fresh reading of the Gospel of Mark: may God gives us a listening heart to hear it afresh today! After the great cycle of feasts, the writer takes us back to the core proclamation of Jesus and the foundational calling of the rst disciples.



Hebrews 2:5-12 Who was / is Jesus? In the words of the Eucharistic Prayer IV, Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin.


Mark 1:21-28 Jesus speaks (and acts) always from within, from the inside, so to speak, of his own authority.


St Ita, virgin


Hebrews 2:14-18 Today, we hear a great teaching from Hebrews: Jesus is able to help us because he become one of us. In this teaching, there is both hope and consolation.


Mark 1:29-39 Our Gospel reminds us of the sources of Jesus authority and spirituality: his own practice of prayer. Out of the prayer comes his willingness to proclaim the good news to everyone.


St Fursa, abbot and missionary


Hebrews 3:7-14 Conversion, as we know, is ongoing. Using Ps 95 as background, the writer reminds us, in the words of St Paul, that now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! (2 Cor 6:2).


Mark 1:40-45 The compassion of Jesus is both immense and immediate. The leper inspires us to recognise our need of God.


St Antony of Egypt, abbot


Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 A threatening note enters our reading from Hebrews: those who left Egypt did not enter the promised land. Just to have made a start, even a good start, does not guarantee arrival!!


Mark 2:1-12 This Gospel passage is really about us: we too are carried by others; we too have our sins forgiven; we too learn to walk again in the light of Gospel.



Hebrews 4:12-16 Two-edged means really very sharp and penetrating. The opening phrase is often quoted - perhaps we can check it against our experience!


Mark 2:13-17 Our story is meant to be provocative on several levels: Jesus goes to the “wrong” people and, even worse, insists he was not sent to the conventionally holy who may not really know their need of God.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025c, January 12). The Baptism of the Lord. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011225.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 

SOCL, Baptism

Updated: Mar 16


ree

Sunday January 12, 2025


The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.


See


The great scenes in the Bible, precisely because of their greatness and indeed uniqueness, can be difcult to access personally. For the Baptism of Jesus, there are at least two potential approaches. Firstly, we could go back in our minds to a life-changing turning point in our own lives, so that we can speak of before and after. Secondly, we could also turn to our own experience when we felt deeply the afrmation of our identity and worth as “the beloved” of someone. In the case of Jesus, these are combined: his identity and life are one, something we would like to be able say about ourselves too.


Listen



Reflect


(Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)


-The people were searching and John pointed them in the direction of Jesus. On your life’s journey who have been the John the Baptist people for you, people who have pointed you in the right direction?


-The Baptism of Jesus was a very special moment for him that afrmed him in his identity as Son of God and in his mission. Recall the experiences that afrmed you – either in your sense of who you are, or in relation to the direction you were taking in life.


-The Baptism of Jesus marks a transition point in his life, and the start of his public ministry. Recall the transition points in your own life. Where did you see the grace of God at work in those times?


-This experience of Jesus occurred when he was at prayer. What part has prayer played in opening you to being aware of God in your life? What part has prayer played in helping you through a transition point in your life?


Pray


Loving Father, who spoke Your delight over Jesus at His baptism, help us to stand humbly in Your transforming presence, to hear Your voice of love in our lives, and to receive Your Spirit's power for service and witness.



 
 
 

SOCL, Epiphany


ree

Sunday, January 05, 2025


We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.


See


In our deepest selves, each of us is a mystery: Where do I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? How should I live? The risk in our present culture is to sleepwalk through life, to be satisfied with a merely material existence. But the human “project” is much greater. Each of us is really on a pilgrimage, or better on a quest — a quest to become my true self, in image and likeness of God. My truest self is found by being open to God, in whom we live and move and have our being. By following that star, by listening to our conscience and our inner selves, we come home to God.


Listen



Reflect


(Matthew 2:1-12)


-What is the star (the vision, hope or purpose) which lights up your journey?


-Like the wise men, our life journey is not one we travel alone. Who are the people who share you life journey now?


-The wise men travelled bearing gifts. What gift do you bring with you on the journey?


-At times the wise men lost sight of the star. What clouds have obscured your star?


-Who, or what, might be Herod for you now? What forces, within or without, could subvert the dream or goal?


Pray


Lord God of the nations, we have seen the star of your glory rising in splendour. The radiance of your incarnate Word pierces the darkness that covers the earth and signals the dawn of peace and justice. Make radiant the lives of your people with that same brightness, and beckon all the nations to walk as one in your light. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024d, January 7). The Epiphany of the Lord. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010724.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/


 
 
 
44454748
bottom of page