Gospel: Mark 1:7-11
7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with[a] water, but he will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Reflection:
Today is the feast of the baptism of our Lord Jesus. The Lord says “All you who are thirsty, come to the water. You who have no money, come receive grain and eat; come without paying and without cost, drink wine and drink milk!’
This is what we are to have if we put our trust and faith to Him. Given that we are sinful, we have to make amendments so that our soul will have to be with God in the end. In this world, we need to work for us to gain money so we could buy food to feed our body.
In the afterlife we will no longer hunger. Jesus calls us to be with Him by offering us the food and drink for free without any cost. The first step to do this is through baptism. As John the Baptist proclaim: “One mightier than me is coming. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.”
The Lord will baptize us with the Holy Spirit. As Roman Catholics, it is an honor that we already accepted Christ Jesus through our baptism. Let us all be majestic in proclaiming the word of God.
The good deeds that we do here on earth will merit us to enter heaven. Being a Christian does not guarantee us to go if we ourselves are not doing the righteous deeds. Together with penance and sacrifice, we earn the door towards eternity.
Baptism is the mark that connects us to the Mighty Savior. Faith, hope and love will be our signatures in serving others. To serve our fellowmen means serving Jesus. Jesus in our brothers, sisters, parents, neighbors and everything around us. We only need to open our inner eyes so we can see what lies ahead of us.
Greatness is not being the center of everything, instead, it is giving your life for the service of God. Whteher you are a commoner, a rich one, a poor one we are all equal in the eyes of God. Let us all start thhis ney year by asessing our faith in Him. – Clea | Helpline PH
