Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Years C
Theme: You are my Son, this day I have begotten you (Lk 3:21-22)
By: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
Homily for Sunday January 9 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
Titus 2:11-14,3:4-7
Luke 3:15-16,21-22
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
This is a very special sunday in our christian journey, for it marks the liturgical end for the season of Christmas and tomorrow in a special we begin the first part of the Ordinary Time.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
Our first reading is from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, and we heard of the words of the Lord’s salvation spoken through the prophet, the promise of His salvation and the coming of the One through Whom God would redeem all of His people. In that revelation through the prophet, the Lord mentioned how He would send a servant to come before Him and to prepare His way, as the voice that would cry out in the wilderness, calling on all the people to prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord.
*FROM OUR SECOND READING*
Our second reading is from the book of Titus and we are told that, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
Today the Gospel presents us with an adult Jesus. The child Jesus of the manger has grown to manhood and respectability, and reaches that place in life when He must begin the Divine vocation entrusted to Him by the Father. In preparation, He joins the candidates who have responded to John the Baptist in the Jordan River, submitting to baptism at his hands to wash away their sins. It is at that time and place that God reveals Him as His Son, by opening the heavens with the Holy Spirit caming down upon Him in the bodily form of a dove and a voice from Heaven is heard saying, “You are my Son, this day I have begotten you.
*OUR CENTRAL MESSAGE FOR TODAY*
1. The feast of the Baptism of our Lord serves to remind us of our own Baptisms, compelling us to renew the promises.
2. Through baptism, all of us have resolved to leave behind our past existence filled with sin and evil, and embark on a new journey of faith, in a new life blessed by God.
3. No longer should we allow ourselves to be dictated by the whims of our human desires and worldly temptations all around us
*CONCLUSION*
May the Lord be with us always, and may He continue to bless us and empower us to to live our lives with good Christian outlook, and do whatever we can to glorify God’s Holy Name and serve Him wholeheartedly. May God bless us in our every good works and endeavours, now and always.
*SOURCES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS*
1. CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
2. COMMENTARY NOTES FROM THE AFRICAN BIBLE
3. PeterCanisius Michael David Kang Daily Homilies.