Baptism of the Lord

Our readings for Baptism of the Lord Sunday:

1. Isaiah 55: 1-11
2. Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
3. 1 John 5: 1-9
4. Mark 1: 7-11

1. Come to the water
• Do you ever take inventory of your deepest desires?
• Why not?  Do you think that it's too late to fulfill your deepest desires?
• Where do you think those desires come from?
• Do you think that God might at all be interested in fulfilling those desires?
2. Drawing water joyfully
• What do you think brings about the joy of the Lord?
• Can you think of the last time that you felt such joy?
• Do you think that the joy of the Lord is compatible with difficulties, danger, even persecution?
3. Loving obedience
• What do you think the commands of God are in our lives?
• If you had to summarize them to someone quickly, what would you say?
• If it's that simple, why are there so many disagreements among Christians?
4. Baptism into the community
• What happens at baptism, or stated another way, what is the matter of baptism?
• What do you think happened at Jesus' baptism?
• Why do you think that He needed to be baptized?
• Why do you think that He needed to be presented at the temple as an infant?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Have I been completely honest with God in my prayer?
2. What decision(s) is/are facing me that I would need strength and courage for?  Have I taken those to God?
3. Do I believe that God is there to help me conquer evil in my life, even if this isn't the first time?
4. What am I doing so that I might be more faithful to my baptismal call?

The Family Business

Back in the old days, it was pretty clear what you would grow up to be.

From your youngest days, Dad would show you around the shop,

Show you the tools of the trade, how to use them on the materials.

Gradually, you got a sense of purpose, of continuity.

These tools, this trade, these customers would all one day be yours,

Just like your father, and his father, and so on.

It's hard to absorb that same sense of purpose these days,

From folks who lived so long ago, or in different circumstances.

Unquestionably, these were great people, left quite a mark in their day.

But you always wonder whether the saints of old would know what to do

In the culture, the times, the people, the places that you live in,

It's hard to sift out what changes with time from the eternal values.

Sometimes, it takes learning of someone else's devotion to a saint,

Hear of the relationship forged between them by difficult times,

To learn how these ancestors of faith continue to speak to us today.

This great cloud of witnesses, cheering us on,

Will take us to places that we've only dreamed of,

If only we let them show the way.

The joy of the Lord be with you all!