|
|
|
|
Word To Life
|
Sunday Scripture Readings: Jan. 13, 2007
By Jeff Hensley
Catholic News Service
January 13, The Baptism of the Lord
Cycle A Readings:
1) Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29:1-4, 3, 9-10
2) Acts 10:34-38
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17
Just before the Holy Spirit descends on Cornelius and his household (in the Scripture that follows the Acts reading for this week), Peter asks if they know "about Jesus of Nazareth beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John preached, of the way God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good works ..." Pretty exciting stuff, this proclamation of the person of Jesus and the power that flows from this living connection to God.
Though all of us are not called to pursue all of the ministries Jesus exercised, we "are" all called to help him in his role, as Isaiah puts it, to be "a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement" in one small way or another.
My friend who is an authority on immigration law helps others do this quite literally. When the lawyers he was allied with failed to keep certain matters of immigration law from being decided by judges not schooled in that field, it fell to him to write a handbook to help inform them of the appropriate laws. His efforts could literally be used to bring prisoners from confinement.
A friend who is a writer went to Haiti to write about the horrible conditions in the slums of Port-au-Prince. She later followed up with mission visits as part of her own parish's efforts to help Haitians make a decent living. They worked hand in hand with local Catholics in the poor but faith- and generosity-rich Haitian countryside.
My wife Susan has made a career in education, at first working with poor inner-city children, helping them raise their reading scores while providing a "home" for them in the school environment. For more than 15 years, she has worked with immigrant children from every continent, providing for their transition into regular studies while providing that same home base of security and acceptance in her classroom.
A friend who is a doctor has served the poor with the healing arts. Most recently, he and his wife have run a Christian-based hospice where people's faith is respected and encouraged as they and their families prepare for their return to the giver of all good gifts, the one of whom David in the psalm for today says, "Give to the Lord the glory due his name."
There's power in baptism, and it all began with Jesus submitting to John the Baptizer.
QUESTIONS:
Is there some small way God is calling you to be a light for others, to call out prisoners from darkness? Are you called to the support of others who engage in more active ministries?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"Behold the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him" (Matthew 3:16b).
END
Copyright © 2006 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
|
|
|
|
