Sunday Gospel Reflection
The Baptism of the Lord
Mark 1:7-11
The Baptism of Jesus
Josie Gonzalez
“I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw…the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
…“You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Inner peace, inner joy. Panloob na kapayapaan at kagalakan . Meron ba tayo nito? Ramdam ba natin ito sa ating puso?
The Lord said, “Come to me all you who are tired and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). Yes, rest in the Lord to enjoy inner peace and inner joy.
Itong paanyaya ng Diyos ay nakasaad at laman ng ebanghelyo sa Bibliya sa pamamagitan ng parables o mga talinhaga, miracles o mga himala na naganap para paalalahanan tayo na si Hesus ay pinadala ng Diyos Ama—Diyos na makapangyarihan sa lahat—na punong-puno ng pagmamahal para sa atin.
In order for us to know the Almighty Father, He sent His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus, to be born amongst us and was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan. John the Baptist, the great prophet who many times over invited us to pave the way, to make straight the path for the coming of the Lord Jesus.
Inner peace, inner joy. Gaano kahalaga sa atin ito?
Lubhang mahalaga ang inner peace at inner joy sapagkat ito ay kabilang sa mga bunga ng Banal na Espiritu. O gusto ba natin ang masalimuot na mundo, maruming kapaligiran at mahirap na pamumuhay? Binigyan tayo ng Diyos Ama ng mundong paraiso para matamasa ang angking kagandahan nito at langhapin ang halimuyak ng kapaligiran pero ano ang ginagawa natin? Sinisira natin ang kalikasan at ang ating paligid sa pagmimina, pagkalbo ng kagubatan, pagpapalayas sa mga katutubo sa lupaing ninuno para sa makasariling motibo, materyal na interes, at ambisyon. Is this inner peace? Inner joy?
Inner peace, inner joy comes to us when or if we surrender our total being to the Almighty GOD— pandemic or no pandemic, calamity or no calamity, sickness or no sickness, rich, poor or jobless, young and old alike. This was the message of John the Baptist when he said, “pave the way for the Lord.” Let Jesus be the focus of our lives and of our loved ones. The kingdom of God begins with us but how do we show this in our lives? Do we linger on the bumps in our life of soured relationship, illness, joblessness, hunger, or death? Or are we able to block and ignore them by offering them to the Almighty God knowing and believing He is in charge of everything?
It is our choice to move on, be creative, and share, love and give, or be stuck with the “minuses” in our life. Let us not be stuck there. The Lord has given us talents to use for His greater glory.
This Sunday’s gospel talks about the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The Gospel tells us that he baptizes with water, but the Lord Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit.
Noong tayo ay bininyagan sa Simbahang Katolika, ang buong katauhan natin ay binigyang-liwanag ng Diyos Amang lumikha sa atin, ni Hesus na naghirap, pinako sa krus, at namatay para iligtas tayo sa kasalanan, at ng Banal na Espiritu na gabay natin sa mundong ito.
This is one of the mysteries of the Holy Trinity to remind us that every day is “Advent” by waiting and preparing for His coming and that every day is “Christmas” by loving and sharing and giving to others so that we may inherit that eternal dwelling place and live with God forever.
We will attain inner peace and inner joy if we are faithful to God through our works, deeds and actions.
Have a grace-filled Sunday. Happy New Year to all.
