First reading Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7
Here is my servant, in whom my soul delights
Thus says the Lord:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit
that he may bring true justice to the nations.
He does not cry out or shout aloud,
or make his voice heard in the streets.
He does not break the crushed reed,
nor quench the wavering flame.
Faithfully he brings true justice;
he will neither waver, nor be crushed
until true justice is established on earth,
for the islands are awaiting his law.
I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;
I have taken you by the hand and formed you;
I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to free captives from prison,
and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.
Responsorial Psalm 28(29):1-4,9-10
The Lord will bless his people with peace.
O give the Lord, you sons of God,
give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name.
Adore the Lord in his holy court.
The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters,
the Lord on the immensity of waters;
the voice of the Lord, full of power,
the voice of the Lord, full of splendour.
The God of glory thunders.
In his temple they all cry: ‘Glory!’
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits as king for ever.
Second reading Acts 10:34-38
God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit
Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.
‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’
Gospel Matthew 3:13-17
‘This is my Son, the Beloved’
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.’ At this, John gave in to him.
As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’
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A child of God
When Jesus was baptised, a voice spoke, “This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.” Jesus listened intently, cherishing these words of God the Father in His heart. These words affirmed His identity as the Son of God, an identity that could not be diminished or taken away from Him. Following His baptism, Jesus began His mission to share the Good News of the Father’s unconditional love with everyone He encountered. In doing so, He faced rejection from those who could not grasp the depth of His message, while others admired His works and words so much that they chose to follow Him. Yet, regardless of the responses He received, Jesus remained grounded in the Father’s love.
In our baptism, we have become children of God. This is our identity now and forever. However, we often forget this fundamental truth in our busy world, where success, popularity and power can distract us. Today, let us listen to God, “You are my child, my beloved, my favour rests on you. You are not defined by what the world makes you, nor by what you have, own or achieve. You are my child. You belong to me.” Today, let us remember that we are God’s children and root ourselves securely in this truth.
Reflective question:
How does the reality of being God’s beloved child impact my life?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
