Father Madden's Sunday Reflection
The Baptism of the Lord
St. John's Church
January 9, 2022
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Fr. Madden's
Sunday Reflection
Dear Friends in the Lord,
December 25th is Christmas Day so it is, as such, the first day in the Octave of Christmas. The Church long ago realized that we need more than just a day to contemplate the sublime mysteries celebrated in the chief feasts of our faith, Christmas and Easter. We must have time to reflect on and experience in our hearts what God is revealing on these holy days. As a result, centuries ago the Church began the custom of prolonging the celebration of certain major feasts, including Easter and Christmas, across eight days. The feast day itself is the first day of the octave, and the eighth day is called the Octave Day. The term octave can thus refer both to the eighth day alone and to the entire period of eight days taken as a whole. As helpful as this practice is, I have always wondered how we decided that eight days would be enough. However, this is not the point. The celebration of an Octave is, in fact, the reminder that we will never fully contemplate these foundational mysteries. The Octave intends to encourage us to contemplate them every day.
This means that the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate today, is a most fitting way to “end” the Christmas Season. Prior to Christmas, we engaged in a season of preparation and contemplation that through both repentance and joy we would be ready for the Advent of our Savior. In Christmas, we spend eight days and more meditating on and internalizing that God has done the impossible. In Jesus, God has stooped down and is with us. Today, we acknowledge that at Baptism we undertake the mission of experiencing and sharing the light and life of the Lord who is with us.
Perhaps in every time and season, and certainly in our own, the need to undertake this mission united together as God’s chosen ones is a most critical reality. Fr. Basil W. Maturin declares that we “hold within our hands the happiness and sorrows of others. We cannot help it or escape from it… Strange power, indeed, to be committed to such weak and unworthy hands; yet there could be but one thing worse: that none could interfere with the joys and sorrows of others. We might envy their happiness and pity their sorrows, but we could not help them. It would be a world of isolated individuals wrapped in inviolable selfishness; each must take care of himself and the world must go its way.”
Today’s celebration does not end Christmas. Rather, it inspires us to live the ordinary seasons of our life in the knowledge that we experience God is with us when we, though earthen vessels, are united with one another in both happiness and in sorrow.
In Christ’s Peace,
Fr John Madden
This weekend's recorded vigil Mass is unavailable.
1st Reading: Isaiah 42
Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Responsorial: Psalm 29
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
2nd Reading: Acts 10
Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:
This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 3
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:
This is my beloved Son, listen to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 3
The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”
Prayers
St. John's Parish:
Prayer Needs & Intentions
Please remember the following needs and intentions in your prayers:
- Pray for my daughter that she gets her license back🙏🏻 (Karen S)
- Pray that God in his great mercy and love will grant forgiveness and healing to our country. (Jacqueline T)
- For a special intention (George V)
- Prayers for the soul of Joshua Peter (Sophie K)
- For the health and intentions of Jeff Parson and a healing of my right ankle. (Steve S)
- My family’s continued good health, my granddaughter’s PET scan Thu and all who have no one to pray for them. And the entire St John’s family (Anne L)
- God Bless and watch over Paige and Kevin K. Grant them a speedy recovery and good health. (James K)
- Please pray for my daughter who is very sick!! (Donna B)
- For all of those battling COVID may God help them to breathe and recovery quickly. For our St. John’s family may you stay healthy (Andrea D)
- For John Lajoie, Toby and Mark as they battle their serious illnesses. (Cynthia D)
- Praying for the repose of the soul of Barry Parenteau. May his soul Rest In Peace. (Donna W)
- Prayers for soul of 10th grade hockey player Teddy Balkind, and bless his family as they grieve his loss. (Ursula)
- Please pray 🙏 for fertility and family. (TRICIA K)
- For parishes applying for the "Evangelization Grants" offered by our diocese. Come, Holy Spirit, the wind of the mission Jesus in our world! (John B)
- Please pray for special intentions ! Thank you. (Kathleen L)
- Please Pray for all the residents (Larry T)
- For Carla who is still fighting Covid. May God help her find peace as she struggles on a ventilator. (Susan M)
- Please pray for Rose during her pregnancy. Please pray that she and her sister return to church. Thank you (Brian M)
- Prayers for our StJohn’s family that we gather one day without fear of COVID. For my children. (Bronwyn T)
- Prayers for my daughter’s transition into her new school , answer’s concerning my husband’s job , a permanent place to live. Prayers for people that have Covid and all the nurses, doctors and health professionals that care for them. Prayers for the St John’s parishioners. (Kerri N)
- Pray for the health of both parents as my Mom goes through her Cancer battle (Ann M)
To share a prayer request or intention in the Sunday Reflection, please click the REPLY button at the bottom of the Saturday morning Prayer Intentions email and post it in the comments.
Additional Prayers:
Spiritual Communion - Pandemic Prayer - Prayer to St. Michael
Act of Spiritual Communion
by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Prayer in Time of Pandemic
from Bishop McManus
O God, whose Only Begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of your Church for our sick brothers and sisters and deliver us from this time of trial.
Open our ears and our hearts to the voice of your Son:
"Be not afraid, for I am with you always."
Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
"Be not afraid, for I am with you always."
Bless all doctors and nurses, researchers and public servants; give us the wisdom to do what is right and the faith to endure this hour, that we might gather once again to praise your name in the heart of your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in your mercy.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel
by Pope Leo XIII
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against
the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
PRAYER PLEDGE
Join the team of St. John's parishioners pledging to pray daily
for the religious education and spiritual formation of our young people
In this challenging time our commitment to praying for our youth is more necessary than ever. Without prayer we cannot hope to transmit the riches of our Catholic faith to the next generation; join us as we lift our voices to God and ask for His blessing upon our efforts to teach our young people to become disciples of Christ.
We welcome you to pray a daily prayer of your own choosing, or to use the "Prayer for St. John's Religious Education" below. 👇
Prayer for St. John's Religious Education
Most gracious Lord, we ask your blessing upon the Religious Education program of our beloved parish of St. John’s. Please allow Your love and grace to flow freely and permeate the hearts and souls of our students and their families. Holy Spirit allow your gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Piety to flourish in our Catechists as they pass on the teachings of Your Church to our students. Bless our volunteers for their generosity and loyalty which keeps our program operating properly. St. Joseph, intercede for our parents in this time so that they will recognize and accept their role as leaders of the Domestic Church.
We praise and honor you our Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit. Amen
St. Charles Borromeo, patron of catechists, pray for us.
St. Gemma Galgani, patron of students, pray for us.
Schola Cantorum
Introit
Dilexisti Iustitiam
Communio
Omnes, qui in Christo baptizati
Parish Resources
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