Saints + Scripture: Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Simplex Edition
'Tis the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Baptism-link, Wikipedia-link Baptism, & Wikipedia-link Feast.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

This baptism is one of the five major milestones in the gospel narrative of the life of Jesus, the others being the Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection, & Ascension. Most Christian denominations view the baptism of Jesus as an important event & a basis for the Christian rite of baptism.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
The Book of Isaiah, chapter forty-two, verses one thru four, six, & seven;
or, the Book of Isaiah, chapter forty, verses one thru five, nine, ten, & eleven;
Psalm Twenty-nine, verses one & two, three & four, & nine & ten;
or, Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one(b) & two, three & four, twenty-four & twenty-five, twenty-seven & twenty-eight, & twenty-nine & thirty;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter ten, verses thirty-four thru thirty-eight;
or, the Letter to Titus, chapter two, verses eleven thru fourteen & chapter three, verses four thru seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter three, verses fifteen, sixteen, twenty-one, & twenty-two.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, this great feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a good time to reflect on the significance of the sacrament of baptism. One of the earliest descriptions of baptism in our tradition is vitae spiritualis ianua, which means “the door to the spiritual life.”

To grasp the full meaning of this is to understand something decisive about Christianity. For Christianity is not primarily about “becoming a good person” or “doing the right thing.” Let’s face it, anyone—pagan, Muslim, Jew, nonbeliever—can be any of those things.

To be a Christian is to be grafted on to Christ and hence drawn into the very dynamics of the inner life of God. We don’t speak simply of following or imitating Jesus. We speak of becoming a member of his Mystical Body.

Do you see why it is so important that we are baptized “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”? For baptism draws us into the relationship between the Father and the Son—which is to say, in the Holy Spirit. Baptism, therefore, is all about grace—our incorporation, through the power of God’s love, into God’s own life.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Seven
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

Now is the time when we all need to rediscover Catholicism. I try to rediscover it every day, & when I seek in earnest to do so I am never disappointed. When I am able to set my ego & personal agenda aide more often than not I am left in awe. Catholicism is old. But let me ask you a question. If you had an ancient treasure map, would you throw it away just because it was old? No. The age of the map doesn't matter. What matters is whether or not it leads to treasure. Catholicism is a treasure map: It may be old, but it still leads to treasure. Let's rediscover it together, & help others to do the same.

†

Otherwise, 13 January would be the festival of Saint Hilary, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (circa 310-368, of Poitiers; the "Hammer of the Arians" & "Athanasius of the West"): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Father of St. Abra [12 December].

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Remigius, Bishop (circa 437-533, of Rheims; the "Apostle of the Franks," also spelt Remi, etc.), who baptized Clovis I, King of the Franks, on 25 December 496: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Son of St. Cilinia [21 October], brother of St. Principius of Soissons [25 September], & uncle of St. Lupus of Soissons [19 October].

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Mungo, Bishop (circa 518-614, A.K.A. Kentigern, Cyndeyrn Garthwys): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: "Let Glasgow flourish."

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Berno of Cluny, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 850-927), abbot of Baume Abbey & first (I) abbot of Cluny Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Baume & Wikipedia-link Baume; & Abbey-link Cluny, Wikipedia-link Cluny, & Wikipedia-link Abbots.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Veronica of Milan, Religious, O.S.A. (circa 1445-1497, A.K.A. of Binasco): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Let us strive to be true Catholics, convinced Catholics, unwavering Catholics, good Catholics. Ours cannot be a watered down, approximate, & camouflaged Catholicism. Above all, it cannot be a Catholicism that implies denying by our behavior what will bring us & our Separated Brethren mutually closer."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"We can never have too much confidence in the good God… As we hope in Him so shall we receive."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"All the saints shine like stars."
—St. Thalassios the Libyan