The Baptism of the Lord

Our readings for the Baptism of the Lord are:

1. Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7
2. Psalms 2:1-2 ,3-4, 3, 9-10
3. Acts 10: 34-38
4. Mark 1: 7-11

• Victory of justice
• Generally, when we speak of victory, it implies the existence of a vanquished.
• What are some of the things that would go away if justice triumphs?
• Political corruption
• Oppression of the voiceless
• Confiscatory taxes
• Immoral laws
• ...
• Who is it in your community who is making justice happen?
• Can they use your help?

• Dynamic permanence 
• Nothing in this world lasts forever, or so we tell ourselves.  But there are some things that never change: love is mightier than death, children and the aged have the power to always surprise you, nothing has more power to make our burdens lighter than to share another's burdens.
• Name some truths that you have come to see are never-changing.
• Do you find comfort in those truths?
• What are some things that seem to constantly change?  I can think of the amount of sales tax LA charges, the price of a college education, the way that I feel about the future.
• How do those unchangeable things help you to deal with the things that do change?

• Anointed with power
• God has certainly blessed the human race is plenty of heroes over time.  Some became saints in the formal sense, many have not.  But they all had a part in bringing God's kingdom to earth, all of them made good use of the power God gave them.
• How would you define power from God's perspective?
• How much of that power do you have?
• How much of that power do you use consistently?

• Humility to the rescue
• John knew his place.  He knew that he was the warm up for Jesus, the main attraction.  In a way, all of us are.  At our very best, there is an element of transparency about us: looking at us, others should see Jesus.
• How do you think that John came to understand his purpose in life?
• Do you think that realization was sudden, or a process?
• How have you come to know your purpose/meaning in life?
• Do you think that ever changes, that you could be called forth from your present life to a new one?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Where is God calling me to bring more justice?
2. Where am I distracted from the eternal by day to day living?
3. Where is God calling me to move with power?
4. Who am I becoming?

The Father's Gaze

You are my beloved child.

I am pleased with you, by you, because of you.

But Lord, what is it about me that pleases you?

I want to be sure to keep that up.

You look for rules to guide you, laws to govern.

As long as you come to me openly, honestly, I am pleased.

But Lord, you cannot mean that.

I remember times I was so angry with you, disappointed in you, despising your name.

And you still prayed.  Oh, how you prayed.

The honesty was thrilling, I ached for you, I gave you comfort.

But those times could not possibly been pleasing.

I know that I drove everyone else in my life away.

You can never drive me away by honesty.

You can always come to me with your troubles, you fears, your dreams.

Well then, let me ask it this way.

What is the one thing that will drive you away?

Indifference

 

Shalom!