Mark 1:7-11
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open
and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
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John’s whole life was meant to point us to Jesus. Everything he said and did was to point us to the Lamb of God. Many people wanted to follow John because of his powerful words. But John said, “I must decrease so that He may increase.” “I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals.” Humility was the key to John’s spirituality.
Does my life point to Jesus?
Do I seek the attention for myself?
Or does everything I say and do lead people to the Lamb of God?
Then I love the story of Jesus’ baptism! This was one of the manifestations of Jesus’ divinity. The heavens opened and a voice spoke saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” I imagine this voice every time I baptize a child. I can almost hear the voice of the Father saying, “You are my beloved son/daughter; with you I am well pleased.”
That is something I would recommend you take time to reflect upon today. In your prayer, imagine your own baptism. Imagine the heavens opening above you and the loving voice of the Father says to YOU, “You are my beloved son/daughter; with you I am well pleased.”
Can you receive this type of love from the Father?
Do you know in your heart how much He loves you?
Let the Father’s love soak into your heart. Then go out and share that love with the world, with John the Baptist’s humility.
God bless,
Fr. Burke
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The most memorable homily I have ever heard was on this passage. The priest asked us to contemplate the effect those words would have on our teenagers if that was the first thing they saw each day. So, I wrote and framed those words and put them in my sons’ bathroom. Each morning, the first thing he saw was this: And God said, “This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased”.
By: Karen on January 6, 2012
at 2:48 pm
That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing…
By: frburke23 on January 9, 2012
at 4:49 am