Saturday before Epiphany &
Blessed Andre Bessette, Religious
Biographical Information about Blessed Andre Bessette
Readings for Saturday before Epiphany
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Jn 5:5-13
As the Church builds to its celebration of the Feast of Epiphany, St. John’s First Letter emphasizes the coming ministry of Christ. From his Baptism (water) to his Passion (blood) the Spirit guides us to faith in God’s truth and salvation.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Our praise of God intensifies as we approach fulfillment of revelation in the Son of God. All of creation rejoices, recognizes and obeys the one True God.
Gospel Mk 1:7-11
As is typical of St. Mark’s Gospel, we are given a short summary of the mission of John the Baptist and the Baptism of Christ in four short verses. Just the high points; John tells those who think he might be the Messiah that the Lord is coming; the Lord in fact comes and is Baptized by John in the Jordan; God pronounces him the anointed one.
Or Lk 3:23-38 or Lk 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38
The second option for the Gospel reading today is the genealogy of Jesus. Luke traces the Lord’s biological parents first to Kind David and ultimately to Adam. Using this mechanism, the Gospel writer connects the prophets and all the references to the Messiah from the Old Testament to Jesus going forward.
Reflection:
Our celebration of Christmas and the Lord’s Nativity draws to a close. We have once more prepared our hearts to receive him. We have created that sacred space within ourselves where the Holy Spirit lives and gives us life. We have walked the dusty trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem and have been chased into Egypt by Herod’s soldiers. We have wondered at finding young Jesus in the temple and have herd the Baptist cry in the wilderness “Make straight the way of the Lord.” And now hear him once more; “Behold the Lamb of God.”
All this we have done so that, at this time, we will be ready to witness the babe who was born in a manger, grow to a man and walk into the Jordan. He now comes out and the Lord claims him as his Son, his Only Begotten Son. And we rejoice at the gift. We have seen the seed planted and have watched its perilous growth. Now we see it blossom and bear fruit.
And what has the journey meant for us? We have been refreshed and rededicated. We have pledged new and enthusiastic effort to follow this King of King and Lord of Lords. We have opened our hearts once more and have unburdened ourselves of the sin to which our human nature has led us.
We stand once more at the bank of the Jordan with the Lord, ready to pick up the great task left us by those who have gone before us. The world has held its breath long enough. The Epiphany, the great understanding of God’s revelation, has begun and we, like athletes before a contest ready ourselves, impatient to take up the challenge. May God in his wisdom give us the peace to worthily take up the Lord’s work. May Christ, our Savior show us the way. And may the Holy Spirit he left for us, give us the strength to do the work that needs to be done.
Pax
Blessed Andre Bessette, Religious
Biographical Information about Blessed Andre Bessette
Readings for Saturday before Epiphany
Commentary:
Reading 1 1 Jn 5:5-13
As the Church builds to its celebration of the Feast of Epiphany, St. John’s First Letter emphasizes the coming ministry of Christ. From his Baptism (water) to his Passion (blood) the Spirit guides us to faith in God’s truth and salvation.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Our praise of God intensifies as we approach fulfillment of revelation in the Son of God. All of creation rejoices, recognizes and obeys the one True God.
Gospel Mk 1:7-11
As is typical of St. Mark’s Gospel, we are given a short summary of the mission of John the Baptist and the Baptism of Christ in four short verses. Just the high points; John tells those who think he might be the Messiah that the Lord is coming; the Lord in fact comes and is Baptized by John in the Jordan; God pronounces him the anointed one.
Or Lk 3:23-38 or Lk 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38
The second option for the Gospel reading today is the genealogy of Jesus. Luke traces the Lord’s biological parents first to Kind David and ultimately to Adam. Using this mechanism, the Gospel writer connects the prophets and all the references to the Messiah from the Old Testament to Jesus going forward.
Reflection:
Our celebration of Christmas and the Lord’s Nativity draws to a close. We have once more prepared our hearts to receive him. We have created that sacred space within ourselves where the Holy Spirit lives and gives us life. We have walked the dusty trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem and have been chased into Egypt by Herod’s soldiers. We have wondered at finding young Jesus in the temple and have herd the Baptist cry in the wilderness “Make straight the way of the Lord.” And now hear him once more; “Behold the Lamb of God.”
All this we have done so that, at this time, we will be ready to witness the babe who was born in a manger, grow to a man and walk into the Jordan. He now comes out and the Lord claims him as his Son, his Only Begotten Son. And we rejoice at the gift. We have seen the seed planted and have watched its perilous growth. Now we see it blossom and bear fruit.
And what has the journey meant for us? We have been refreshed and rededicated. We have pledged new and enthusiastic effort to follow this King of King and Lord of Lords. We have opened our hearts once more and have unburdened ourselves of the sin to which our human nature has led us.
We stand once more at the bank of the Jordan with the Lord, ready to pick up the great task left us by those who have gone before us. The world has held its breath long enough. The Epiphany, the great understanding of God’s revelation, has begun and we, like athletes before a contest ready ourselves, impatient to take up the challenge. May God in his wisdom give us the peace to worthily take up the Lord’s work. May Christ, our Savior show us the way. And may the Holy Spirit he left for us, give us the strength to do the work that needs to be done.
Pax
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