Catholic TV Mass Online January 12, 2025: The Baptism of the Lord

Fr. Ariel Orozco Parish: St. Charles Choir: Heart of the Nation Text from the Gospel and Homily The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, o Lord. 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 sons; with you I am well pleased." The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. With you I am well pleased. Can you think of a better compliment? Of a better affirmation of your identity. God saying, "With you I am well pleased." What does it mean to be found pleasing in God's eyes? I often think that we humans try so hard to impress others and impress god that we miss the point. As we celebrate the baptism of the Lord we have to remember that Jesus did not need to be baptized. He didn't need to repent. He didn't have original sin. So why would he do it? There are a lot of theories. Presumably he wanted to lead by example. But on this specific passage I think it's important to highlight what the father states about the son. First, he affirms his identity. You are my beloved, beloved son. And mind you this is a voice speaking in public. And everyone heard it. And secondly, the Lord not only affirms the identity but he says, with you I am well pleased. I have the great honor of being a god father to 2 children. And the youngest of them whom we recently baptized as I was there as a godfather, I remember the pastor of our parish saying all the prayers. And I had a beautiful moment with my goddaughter. She was very little, maybe a month and half and I stood by her as I proclaimed as I publicly declared that I was willing to accept the responsibility of a god parent. And she looked at me intently. Not saying or trying to do anything. Simply being herself. And she grabbed my finger and grasped it really tight. I looked at her and realized the beauty of that moment. It was almost as if she wasn't even trying to impress or be anyone else. Simply being who she was created to be helped me understand that I found her pleasing. And how much the father delights in each of us as his beloved children as when we are who we are created to be. See, god is unimpressionable. We try so hard to impress god and that is tiring. Stop trying to impress god. The best way you can please him is by being you. He created you. As you are. And a lot of the time we find ourselves displeasing. Why? Because we're trying to be someone we are not. See much like that little girl, she didn't have to giggle, she didn't have to speak, she didn't have to do anything. She simply needed to be who she is. Ultimately this gospel reminds us that you too, when you were baptized are not different than Jesus in how you are found in god's eyes. You too are pleasing in his eyes, and you too are his beloved child. But unless you believe that you're always going to go back to other identities that don't belong to you. Stop trying. Just be who you are. Amen. Entrance: The Baptism of the Lord Antiphon Text © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 2020, Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart, and Curtis Stephan. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Psalm 104: O Bless The Lord My Soul Text © 1969, 1981, 1997, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music: Owen Alstott, © 1977, 1990, OCP. All rights reserved. Gospel Acclamation: Celtic Music © 1985, 1996, Fintan O’Carroll and Christopher Walker. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Preparation: Come To The Water Text: Based on Isaiah 55:1–2; Matthew 11:28–30. Text and music © 1978, John B. Foley, S.J., and OCP. All rights reserved. Communion: Beautiful Is Your Love © 2012, Blue Raft Music and Meaux Mercy, both administered at CapitolCMGPublishing.com, and Josh Blakesley and Sarah Hart, both published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Sending Forth: Joy To The World Text: CM with repeats; based on Psalm 98; Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, alt. Music: T. Hawkes’ Collection of Tunes, 1833; George Frideric Handel, 1685–1759. Mass Setting: Mass of Christ The Savior Text © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Music © 2007, 2009, Daniel L. Schutte. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this liturgy obtained from ONE LICENSE, License No. A-718591. www.HeartoftheNation.org