“The Heavens Opened”
©2015 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
Gospel: (Mark 1:7-11 / Baptism of The Lord)
“And he [John the Baptist] preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Let us Pray: -1 Our Father -10 Hail Mary’s -Glory be… - Oh My Jesus…
Reflection: My Friends,
As God has chosen us, (He chose us first) God has also chosen Jesus to represent what we must do as we follow His only begotten Son. So that through God’s Grace and Love we are united spiritually with He who has died for us, to save us. Jesus had to be baptized. His life has always been about (do as I do), this example of humility and offering of Himself -helps us better understand how God in the form of man (Jesus) helps us through the transition of us being more close to Him, by doing all we can do to be like Him. Yes indeed, that was a long sentence with not much time to breath, but I hope the reflection of this thought made sense.
“The
Lord was Baptized, not to be cleansed Himself, but to cleanse the waters, so
that those waters, cleansed by the flesh of Christ which knew no sin, might
have the power of Baptism.” ~St. Ambrose of Milan
In my research this is what I have found about Baptism:
Catechism of The Catholic Church
CHAPTER ONE
THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION
ARTICLE 1
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the
whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae
spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other
sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we
become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in
her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in
the word."
I. WHAT IS THIS SACRAMENT CALLED?
1214 This sacrament
is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried
out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to "plunge" or
"immerse"; the "plunge" into the water symbolizes the
catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection
with him, as "a new creature."
1215 This sacrament
is also called "the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy
Spirit," for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water
and the Spirit without which no one "can enter the kingdom of God."
1216 "This bath
is called enlightenment, because those who receive this
[catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding .
. . ." Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true
light that enlightens every man," the person baptized has been
"enlightened," he becomes a "son of light," indeed, he
becomes "light" himself:
Also look
at this:Christ's Baptism
1223 All the Old Covenant prefiguration’s find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan.17 After his resurrection Christ gives this mission to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."18
1224 Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness."19 Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying.20 The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as his "beloved Son."21
1225 In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which he had to be baptized.22 The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life.23 From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit"24 in order to enter the Kingdom of God.
There is so much to share, please take the time to read this:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2c1a1.htm
Pondering these thoughts today: Throughout your Christian journey do you know the Joy of Jesus; that has been shared with you through your baptism? God spoke to Jesus for all to hear, are your ears open to His voice? Do you live a life transformed by the love Jesus has covered you with in your Baptism? The humility Jesus showed us in His Baptism is the same we must live in our Living Baptism through the power and love that The Holy Spirit we can do that.
“It is this one Spirit who makes it
possible for an infant to be regenerated . . . when that infant is brought to baptism; and it is through this one
Spirit that the infant so presented is reborn. For it is not written, ‘Unless a
man be born again by the will of his parents’ or ‘by the faith of those
presenting him or ministering to him,’ but, ‘Unless a man be born again of
water and the Holy Spirit.’ The water, therefore, manifesting exteriorly the
sacrament of grace, and the Spirit effecting interiorly the benefit of grace,
both regenerate in one Christ that man who was generated in Adam.” ~St.
Augustine
Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
http://www.pinterest.com/rosarymanjim/
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
