"Not worthy to untie his sandal."

John proclaims the coming of someone mightier than he.

We became members of God's family when we were baptized in the name of the Triune God.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Be comforted, my people,

Be strengthened, says your God. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem,

proclaim to her that her time of bondage is at an end, that her guilt has been paid for,

that from the hand of the Lord she has received double punishment for all her iniquity.

 

A voice cries, "In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord.

Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley will be raised up;

every mountain and hill will be laid low. The stumbling blocks shall become level and the rugged places smooth.

The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mortals together will see it; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

 

Go up onto the high mountain, messenger of good news to Zion,

lift up your voice with strength, fear not to cry aloud when you tell Jerusalem and announce to the cities of Judah:

Here is your God! Here comes the Lord Sabaoth with might; his strong arm rules for him;

his reward is with him, and here before him is his booty. Like a shepherd he tends his flock:

he gathers the lambs in his arms, he carries them in his bosom, gently leading those that are with young.

 

Ps 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30 O bless the Lord, my soul.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,

teaching us to reject an irreligious way of life, and worldly greed,

and to live in this world, as responsible persons, upright and serving God,

while we await our blessed hope the glorious manifestation of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus.

 

He gave himself for us, to redeem us from every evil,

and to purify a people he wanted to be his own, and dedicated to what is good.

 

But God, our Savior, revealed his eminent goodness and love for humankind, and saved us,

not because of good deeds we may have done, but for the sake of his own mercy,

to the water of rebirth and renewal, by the Holy Spirit poured over us through Christ Jesus our Savior,

so that, having been justified by his grace, we should become heirs, in hope of eternal life.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were wondering about John's identity, "Could he be the Messiah?"

Then John answered them, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is coming will do much more:

he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I am not worthy to untie his sandal.

 

Now, with all the people who came to be baptized, Jesus, too, was baptized.

Then, while he was praying, the heavens opened: the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily form of a dove,

and a voice from heaven was heard, "You are my Son, in whom I am well pleased."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Not worthy to untie his sandal."

Read: John the Baptist prepares the way for the Messiah,

whose arrival is announced by heavenly sign and sound.

As Jesus prays after baptism, he is revealed as God's Son,

the One who will save the people and renew them with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

 

Reflect: The identity of John the Baptist and of Jesus are clarified in today's readings.

John makes it clear that he is not the Messiah. He is the humble herald of the One who is to come,

"not worthy to untie his sandal." As Jesus is baptized,

his identity as Son and Saviour is confirmed by the Holy Spirit and God the Father.

The Father is well pleased in his Son, who carries out his saving will.

 

Our own identity as Christians is also tied to our Baptism and expressed in this great Sacrament.

We are adopted as sons and daughters of God,

as brothers and sisters of Christ and heirs to the Kingdom of God.

God is well pleased with us, if we seek to do his will like John the Baptist and Christ his Son.

 

Pray: Reflect upon your status as a beloved son or daughter of God and brother or sister of Christ.

 

Act: Find out the date of your Baptism and give thanks for such a great gift from God.