Bulletin of the Catholic Community at the Family Foundation School
Pauca Verba (a few words)
Number 7 – January 10, 2010
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus! Jesus didn’t need baptism, but he went to the Jordan River where sinners had gathered in repentance. Repentance is sorrow for sin AND a desire to live a new kind of life. How good God is in joining us where we are at our lowest and worst. How good and kind God is to lift us up out of the watery world of our darkness to the fresh breath of his love.
If I call myself a Christian I’ve got to know Jesus in the Gospels. Oh, let’s start to read them everyday. Let’s re-read the Gospel from today’s Mass: Luke 3:15-22. To meditate on this scene is to LOCK your mind on it. Hold each sentence. Put yourself in the scene. Who’s there? What’s happening? Does Jesus notice you? The Spirit descends and the Father’s voice is heard – the Holy Trinity is revealed! Do I see? And remember this: I’m baptized too – I’ve met Jesus – in the water!
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Today ALL the water of the world is made holy as Jesus steps down into the River Jordan! God is taking creation back to himself after it was lost to him in the sin of Adam and Eve. God doesn’t give up on what he has created. And that includes me!
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Let us pass, O faithful,
from Bethlehem to Jordan.
For behold, the light which came
into the darkness
begins to overcome the night.
Seeing you, O Christ our God,
drawing near to him in the River Jordan,
John said, “Why do you who are
Without sin come to your servant,
O Lord?
In whose name shall I baptize you?
Of the Father?
But you bear him in yourself!
Of the Son?
But you are yourself the Son made flesh.
Of the Spirit?
But you know that from your own lips
You give him to the faithful.”
O God who has manifested yourself to the world,
have mercy on us.
Byzantine Liturgy
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In the icon of the Lord’s Baptism there are angels taking part in the holy ritual. There are prayers from the Divine Services mentioning their presence. “The choirs of angels were full of wonder, fear and joy.” Father Rahner says that the angels are the entourage of Jesus. Sometimes the angels hold cloaks in their hands, evidently playing the role of attendants during Jesus’ Baptism and ready to cover the body of the Lord as he comes out of the water. Or their hands are covered by their own cloaks as a sign of reverence before Jesus, whom they serve.
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Speaking of angels – we should pay them more attention than we do. The invisible world exists closely to our own. We should make friends with the angels as we will spend eternity with them. Angels protect us from danger, especially in the dangerous time of temptation. They aid us in doing good and lead us when we are in doubt or confusion. Here is a prayer to my guardian angel we might pray during these early days of a new year.
From the spirit which distorts the truth – good angel deliver me.
From the spirit of fantasy – good angel deliver me.
From the spirit of negativity – good angel deliver me.
From the spirit of ingratitude – good angel deliver me.
From the spirit of complaint – good angel deliver me.
From the spirit of discouragement – good angel deliver me.
From the spirit of revenge – good angel deliver me.
From the spirit of ignorance – good angel deliver me.
From dangerous companions – good angel deliver me.
From the dangers of addiction – good angel deliver me.
From hardness of heart – good angel deliver me.
From the evil of prejudice – good angel deliver me.
In my efforts to do good – good angel strengthen me.
In the time of doubt – good angel enlighten me.
In the moment of fear – good angel calm and reassure me.
When I’m tempted to selfishness – good angel warm my heart.
When I’m tempted to isolate – good angel re-direct me.
When I’m tempted to give up – good angel give me new strength.
When I’m tempted to get lost in worldly things – find me.
