Happy Saturday, friend! We are so excited to share with you what's coming up this week as we all prepare our hearts by praying with readings for Sunday, the day of rest with our Lord.
Live Liturgically // This Week’s Feast Days
Sunday, January 12 // Feast of The Baptism of the Lord
Monday, January 13 // Optional Memorial of Saint Hilary, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Monday of the First Week of Ordinary Time)
Friday, January 17 // Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot
Letter from the Editor //
Dear Sister,
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is the last day of the Christmas season in the liturgical calendar. (Though we will celebrate one more Christmas-related feast on February 2 of the Presentation of the Lord.) The Gospel for tomorrow tells us of another manifestation or epiphany of Jesus as the Messiah, showing us that the reason for God becoming a Man was so that we could be united with Him. After Jesus has been baptized by His cousin John, the Holy Spirit is seen in the form of a dove, and the Father speaks over Him, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). At our own sacramental Baptism—which is the one John promised Jesus would give us—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are also present, we become daughters of God, and He is well pleased to make His home within our souls.
With the Psalmist, as children of God, we can “give to the LORD glory and praise” and enthrone Him “as king forever” in our hearts (Psalm 29:1, 10). For the Lord has fulfilled His promise yet again, grasping us by the hand, forming us, and freeing us from the “confinement” of Original Sin (see Isaiah 42:6-7). And now through the help of grace, we can become one with His “chosen one,” receive the Holy Spirit and learn to be pleasing to the Lord (see Isaiah 42:1). Saint Peter proclaims that “whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:25). We can do this by listening for His majestic voice in our hearts, affirming our chosenness and guiding us on our way.
I am praying for you this week, dear sister.
In the Love of the Father,
Susanna
Read the Readings for the Baptism of the Lord:
First Reading // Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm // Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
Second Reading // Acts 10:34-38
Gospel // Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
Prayer Practice // Sprinkle some Holy Water around your house today and recall the gift of your adoption as a daughter of God.
Susanna Spencer holds a master's in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and is the Devotions Editor for Blessed is She. She is a freelance writer and editor and a teacher. She lives with her philosopher husband, three teen daughters, one pre-teen son, and a miracle baby girl in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She loves reading theology and novels, attending beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious food, and casually following baseball. She is the author of the Gospel Studies including Seek His Kingdom: A Meditation on Matthew , Listen to Him: A Meditation on Mark, Preach in His Name: A Meditation on Luke, and Abide in His Love: A Meditation on John. She was the contributing author and editor for our children’s devotional prayer book, Rise Up. She was the Theological Editor of the Blessed Conversations Studies. Find out more about her here.
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