Saints + Scripture: The Baptism of the Lord

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'Tis the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (circa 30): Baptism-link, Wikipedia-link Baptism, & Wikipedia-link Feast.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

This is the feast day commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by [St.] John the Baptist [24 June, 29 August]. Originally the Baptism of Christ was celebrated on Epiphany, which commemorates the coming of the Magi, the Baptism of Christ, & the wedding at Cana. Over time in the West, however, the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord came to be commemorated as a distinct feast from Epiphany.

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;
Psalm Twenty-nine (R/. eleven[b]), verses one & two, three & four, & nine & ten;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter ten, verses thirty-four thru thirty-eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter three, verses thirteen thru seventeen.

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

Friends, Matthew’s account of Jesus’ Baptism points to the significance of this foundational sacrament.

Listen to the great theologian Gregory of Nazianzen: "Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift… It is called ‘gift’ because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; ‘grace’ since it is given even to the guilty." Jesus said, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you." Baptism is the sacramental ratification of that choice.

And this is why we speak of Baptism as justifying us and washing away our sin. We are—all of us—born into a deeply dysfunctional world, a world conditioned by millenia of selfishness, cruelty, injustice, stupidity, and fear. This has created a poisonous atmosphere that conditions all of our thoughts and moves and actions.

Do you see why the stress on grace is so important? Baptism is the moment when the Holy Spirit draws us out of this fallen world and into a new world, the very life of the Trinity. That’s why Baptism involves being born again, lifted up, enlightened, transformed, saved—and why the Church speaks of the baptized as a "new creature."

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

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

Video reflection by Doctor Edward Sri (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): God with Us.

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

†

Otherwise, 12 January would be the festival of Saint Tatiana of Rome, Virgin & Martyr (died circa 226), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Alexander Severus: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Benedict Biscop, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 628-690 A.K.A. Biscop Baducing), founder of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Abbey (674-686), abbot of Saint Augustine's Abbey (669-671): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Monkwearmouth-Jarrow & Wikipedia-link Saint Augustine's.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, Abbot, O.Cist. (1110-1167; also spelt Ailred; A.K.A. Æthelred, Ellast, etc.; of Revensby), fourth (IV) abbot of Rievaulx Abbey (1147-1167), first (I) abbot of Revensby Abbey (1143-1147): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Rievaulx, Wikipedia-link Rievaulx, & Wikipedia-link Abbots; & Wikipedia-link Revensby.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Martín of the Holy Cross, Priest, C.R.S.A. (circa 1130-1203, A.K.A. of León): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, Religious, C.N.D. (1620-1700, the "Mother of the Colony"), foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal (C.N.D.): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.N.D.

'Twould also be the festival of Blesseds Emmanuel d'Abreu, Bartholomew Alvarez, John Gaspard Cratz, & Vincent de Cunha, Priests & Martyrs, S.J. (died 1737), martyred in the reign of the Vietnamese warlord Trịnh Giang: Martyr-link Echo Delta & Wikipedia-link Echo Delta, Martyr-link Bravo Alpha, Martyr-link Juliett Golf Charlie, & Martyr-link Victor Charlie.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"She, by an entirely unique privilege, completely overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and as a result she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body."
—Pope Ven. Pius XII, on the Assumption of Mary (1876-1958, reigned 1939-1958)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Moral redemption from sin was the principal reason Jesus came. Mental & physical evils are consequences of moral evil because they came into the world as the result of a rebellion against God. So now Jesus assumes our guilt as His own. That was why He was silent seven times before Pilate. Seven times He took our place, when we deserved to be condemned. Seven times He spoke as the shepherd, seven times silent as the lamb.

During World War II on the Burma Road the Japanese had some prisoners. At the end of a working day one shovel was missing. The Japanese commander said that if the shovel was not returned within five minutes, ten men would be shot. It was not returned at the end of three minutes. They repeated the warning. One man stepped forward & was clubbed to death. When they got back, they found all the shovels. Like Jesus, the dead prisoner had taken on the guilt of others."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)