Saturday, January 11, 2014

Lectionary Gospel Reading for January 12, 2014

Matthew 3:13-17
3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
3:14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
3:15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
3:16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."



 Creator, Word, and Love
God complete in three.
 John recognizes that he confronts the Word,
God Incarnate.
John believes he is not worthy to baptize God.
Jesus reassures him with cryptic words.
Jesus chooses to use baptism
To signal his commitment to the Kingdom.
We echo his actions
When we are baptized.
And commit ourselves to the Triune God. 
 Jesus rises from the water
Just as he will rise from the grave.
The Love of God descends on Jesus
Linking Creator and Word with Love.
The Trinity is renewed.
Jesus, the Son of Man,
Has received the blessing of the Creator
Through the Holy Spirit.
That blessing and love will carry him
To Jerusalem,
To Death,
To Resurrection.

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