Readings for the Baptism of Our Lord

With this Feast, Christmas ends liturgically, though it continues on in spirit and every bit a liturgical cycle until Candlemas when we recall Mary's post-birth Purification and Our Lord'due south Presentation in the Temple.

On this, the Octave of the Epiphany, we proceed to focus on the Mysteries that entered our hearts on Twelfthnight and the Epiphany, but today more specifically with regard to the Baptism of Jesus past St. John the Baptist in the River Hashemite kingdom of jordan. He Whose nascence we just historic now shows us how to exist born again or "born from higher up."

The marvelling at the Theophany continues in pondering the meaning of His Baptism, a meaning made more credible past the Gradual, Alleluia, Offertory, Preface, and Communion prayers of today'south Mass, all of which allude to the Magi and their recognition of Jesus every bit King and God. The Gospel reading comes from the first chapter of John, verses 29-34:

The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him, and he saith: Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him Who taketh away the sin of the world. This is He, of whom I said: After me at that place cometh a man, who is preferred earlier me: considering He was before me. And I knew Him non, but that He may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with h2o.

And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming downwards, as a dove from heaven, and He remained upon him. And I knew Him not; just He Who sent me to cognominate with h2o, said to me: He upon Whom g shalt meet the Spirit descending, and remaining upon Him, He it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and I gave testimony, that this is the Son of God.

St. John the Baptist, the prophet whom prophets foretold, heralded the Christ during Advent, and now, at the end of the liturgical Christmas season, gives testimony once once more. He gives this witness not only by being in the spirit of Elias (IV Kings 1:3-8), only by the identify he chose as the site of his baptisms: the River Jordan, where Elias (Elijah) was last seen before he was taken upwardly to Heaven, and the waters of which were healed by Elias's son, Eliseus (Elisha):

Four Kings 2:11-xix-22
And as they [Elias and Eliseus] went on, walking and talking together, behold a fiery chariot, and fiery horses parted them both disconnected: and Elias went up by a cyclone into heaven. And Eliseus saw him, and cried: My father, my father, the chariot of State of israel, and the driver thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own garments, and hire them in ii pieces. And he took up the curtain of Elias, that fell from him: and going back, he stood upon the bank of the Jordan, And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias, that had fallen from him, and they were not divided. And he said: Where is now the God of Elias? And he struck the waters, and they were divided, hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over...

...And the men of the city said to Eliseus: Behold the state of affairs of this city is very good, as thou, my lord, seest: but the waters are very bad, and the ground arid. And he said: Bring me a new vessel, and put table salt into it. And when they had brought it, He went out to the spring of the waters, and cast the common salt into it, and said: Thus saith the Lord: I have healed these waters, and there shall be no more than in them death or barrenness. And the waters were healed unto this solar day, according to the discussion of Eliseus, which he spoke.

But more than chiefly than this witness, the Male parent Himself and the Holy Ghost give testimony. St. Matthew'south account of this Divine testimony is more than explicit. From the third chapter of his Gospel:

And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him. And behold a vocalism from sky, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

This revelation of His celebrity was predicted in Isaias 40:3-5: 3

The voice of ane crying in the desert: Prepare ye the mode of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and colina shall be made low, and the crooked shall go straight, and the rough ways plain. And the glory of the Lord shall exist revealed, and all mankind together shall encounter, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken.

This Feast is like that of the Pentecost in its revelation of the Trinity, and fifty-fifty more is it like the Feast of the Transfiguration which commemorates the events that took place on Mt. Tabor, when Christ's Divinity was evident in His glorious Light, when the bright cloud overshadowed Him, and when the words of the Father echoed what was heard at the River Hashemite kingdom of jordan:

Matthew 17:1-v
And after 6 days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a loftier mountain apart: And He was transfigured before them. And His Face did shine every bit the lord's day: and His garments became white as snowfall. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is adept for us to be hither: if thou wilt, allow us brand here three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and 1 for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him.

This Divine manifestation helps explain why Jesus -- the Sinless I, the Pure and Unspotted Lamb -- would exist baptized at all: and so that He would exist known for Who He is, so that He would be fabricated manifest.

In add-on to this reason, St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274), in his Summa Theologica, gives u.s.a. three other reasons for the fittingness of St. John baptizing Christ. One is so that Christ might sanctify Baptism, a sentiment expressed past St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) when he wrote "In truth, Christ needed not baptism, neither his nor any other; but rather baptism needed the ability of Christ." Some other is so that John, by baptizing, "might acquaint men to the Baptism of Christ." And the last is so that "by persuading men to do penance, he might prepare men to receive worthily the baptism of Christ." Here he quotes the Venerable Bede:

...the baptism of John was as profitable earlier the baptism of Christ, as instruction in the organized religion profits the catechumens non yet baptized. For just as he preached penance, and foretold the baptism of Christ, and drew men to the knowledge of the Truth that hath appeared to the globe, so practise the ministers of the Church, after instructing men, chide them for their sins, and lastly hope them forgiveness in the baptism of Christ.

To give you things to retrieve virtually this day, I present 2 hymns by St. Ephraem. The first concerns Jesus and John, and the second is here to help y'all capeesh your own Baptism.

Reading

Hymn Fourteen
Hymn Apropos Our Lord and St. John
Past St. Ephraem (d. 373)

Response: Glory to Thee, my Lord, for Thee with joy Heaven and earth worship!

i. My thought bore me to Jordan, and I saw a marvel when there was revealed the glorious Bridegroom Who to the Bride shall bring freedom and holiness.

ii. I saw John filled with wonder, and the multitudes continuing almost him, and the glorious Benedict bowed downwardly to the son of the arid that he might cognominate Him.

iii. At the Discussion and the Voice my thought marvelled: for lo! John was the Vox; our Lord was manifested as the Word, that what was hidden should become revealed.

iv. The Bride was espoused but knew non who was the Benedict on whom she gazed: the guests were assembled, the desert was filled, and our Lord was hidden among them.

v. Then the Bridegroom revealed Himself; and to John at the voice He drew well-nigh: and the Forerunner was moved and said of Him "This is the Benedict Whom I proclaimed."

6. He came to baptism Who baptizes all, and He showed Himself at Jordan. John saw Him and drew back, deprecating, and thus he spake:

seven. "How, my Lord, willest M to exist baptized, Grand Who in Thy baptism atonest all? Baptism looks unto Thee; shed Thou on it holiness and perfection?"

8. Our Lord said "I will information technology so; draw near, baptize Me that My Will may be done. Resist My Will thou canst non: I shall be baptized of thee, for thus I will it."

9. "I entreat, my Lord, that I be not compelled,-for this is hard that 1000 hast said to me, 'I have demand that thou shouldst cognominate Me;' for it is Thou that with Thy hyssop purifiest all."

x. "I have asked it, and it pleases Me that thus it should be; and grand, John, why gainsayest thou? Endure righteousness to be fulfilled, and come, baptize Me; why standest Thou?"

eleven. "How can one openly grasp in his hands the burn that burns? O 1000 that art fire have mercy on me, and bid me not come virtually Thee, for information technology is hard for me!"

12. "I take revealed to Thee My Will; what questionest thou? Draw nigh, baptize Me, and thou shalt not be burned. The bridechamber is ready; keep Me not back from the wedding banquet that has been made ready."

13. "The Watchers fear and dare not gaze on Thee lest they exist blinded; and I, how, O my Lord, shall I baptize Thee? I am too weak to draw about; arraign me not!"

14. "1000 fearest; therefore gainsay not-confronting My Will in what I want:  and Baptism has respect unto Me. Accomplish the piece of work to which thou hast been chosen!"

15. "Lo! I proclaimed Thee at Hashemite kingdom of jordan in the ears of the people that believed non and if they shall run into Thee baptized of me, they will doubt that Thou art the Lord."

16. "Lo! I am to be baptized in their sight, and the Begetter Who sent Me bears witness of Me that I am His Son and in Me He is well pleased, to reconcile Adam who was nether His wrath."

17. "Information technology becomes, me. O my Lord, to know my nature that I am moulded out of the ground, and Grand the moulder Who formest all things: I, then, why should I baptize Thee in water?"

18. "Information technology becomes thee to know wherefore I am come, and for what cause I have desired that thou shouldst baptize Me. Information technology is the middle of the way wherein I have walked; withhold thou non Baptism."

19. "Small is the river whereto G fine art come, that Thou shouldst social club therein and it should cleanse Thee. The heavens suffice not for Thy mightiness; how much less shall Baptism contain Thee!"

twenty. "The womb is smaller than Jordan; nonetheless was I willing to lodge in the Virgin: and as I was born from woman, so as well am I to be baptized in Jordan."

21. "Lo! the hosts are standing! the ranks of Watchers, lo! they worship And if I describe about, my Lord, to baptize Thee, I tremble for myself with quaking."

22. "The hosts and multitudes phone call thee happy, all of them, for that thou baptizest Me. For this I have chosen thee from the womb: fearfulness thou not, for I have willed it

23. "I accept prepared the way as I was sent:-I have betrothed the Helpmate every bit I was allowable. May Thy Epiphany be spread over the world now that M art come up, and let me not cognominate Thee!"

24. "This is My preparation, for so accept I willed; I will get down and exist baptized in Jordan, and make bright the armour for them that are baptized, that they may exist white in Me and I not be conquered."

25. "Son of the Father, why should I cognominate Thee? for lo! Thou art in Thy Father and Thy Father in Thee. Holiness unto the priests 1000 givest; water that is common wherefore askest Thousand?"

26. "The children of Adam look unto Me, that I should work for them the new nativity. A fashion in the waters I will search out for them, and if I be not baptized this cannot be."

27. "Pontiffs of Thee are consecrated, priests past Thy hyssop are purified; the anointed and the kings M makest. Baptism, how shall it profit Thee?"

28. "The Bride thousand betrothedst to Me awaits Me, that I should go down, be baptized, and sanctify her. Friend of the Bridegroom withhold Me not from the washing that awaits Me."

29. "I am non able, for I am weak, Thy blaze in my hands to grasp. Lo! Thy legions are equally flame; bid ane of the Watchers baptize Thee!"

30. "Not from the Watchers was My Trunk causeless, that I should summon a Watcher to baptize Me. The body of Adam, lo! I have put on, and thou, son of Adam, fine art to baptize Me."

31. "The waters saw Thee, and greatly feared ; the waters saw Thee, and lo! they tremble! The river foams in its terror; and I that am weak, how shall I baptize Thee?"

32. "The waters in My Baptism are sanctified, and fire and the Spirit from Me shall they receive; and if I be not baptized they are not made perfect to be fruitful of children that shall not die."

33. "Fire, if to Thy fire it draw near, shall exist burnt up of it as stubble. The mountains of Sinai endured Thee non, and I that am weak, wherein shall I cognominate Thee?"

34. "I am the flaming fire; yet for man's sake I became a babe in the virgin womb of the maiden. And now I am to exist baptized in Hashemite kingdom of jordan."

35. "Information technology is very encounter that Yard shouldst baptize me, for K hast holiness to purify all. In Thee it is that the defiled are made holy; but Thou that art holy, why fine art One thousand to be baptized?"

36. "Information technology is very right that thou shouldst baptize Me, as I bid, and shouldst non gainsay. Lo! I baptized thee inside the womb; cognominate grand me in Jordan!"

37. "I am a bondman and I am weak. 1000 that freest all have mercy on me! Thy latchets to unloose I am not able; Thy exalted head who will make me worthy to touch on?"

38. "Bondmen in My Baptism are set costless; handwritings in My washing are blotted out; manumissions in the water are sealed; and if I exist non baptized all these come up to nought."

39. "A mantle of fire the air wears, and waits for Thee, in a higher place Jordan; and if K consentest to it and willest to exist baptized, Yard shall baptize Thyself and fulfil all."

twoscore. "This is meet, that thou shouldst baptize Me, that none may err and say concerning Me, 'Had He non been conflicting from the Male parent'southward house, why feared the Levite to baptize Him?' "

41. "The prayer, and so, when Thou art baptized, how shall I consummate over Jordan? When the Male parent and the Spirit are seen over Thee, Whom shall I telephone call on, as priest?"

42. "The prayer in silence is to be completed: come, thy hand solitary lay g on Me. and the Father shall utter in the priest's stead that which is come across concerning His Son."

43. "They that are bidden, lo! all of them stand; the Bridegroom'south guests, lo! they bear witness that 24-hour interval by mean solar day I said among them, 'I am the Vocalism and not the Word.' "

44. "Vocalism of him that cries in the wilderness, fulfil thou the work for which thou camest, that the desert whereunto one thousand wentest out may resound with the mighty peace thou preachedst therein."

45. "The shout of the Watchers has come to my ears; lo! I hear from the Father's house the hosts that sound along the cry, 'In Thy Epiphany, O Bridegroom, the worlds take life.' "

46. "The time hastes on, and the spousal relationship guests-expect to Me to run across what is doing. Come, baptize Me, that they may give praise to the Voice of the Father when information technology is heard!"

47. "I hearken, my Lord, co-ordinate to Thy Word: come to Baptism as Thy love constrains Thee! The dust worships that whereunto he has attained, that on Him Who fashioned him he should lay his hand."

48. The heavenly ranks were silent every bit they stood, and the Bridegroom went downward into Jordan; the Holy Ane was baptized and straightway went up, and His Light shone along on the world.

49. The doors of the highest were opened to a higher place, and the voice of the Father was heard," This is my Beloved in Whom I am well pleased." All ye peoples, come and worship Him.

50. They that saw were amazed as they stood, at the Spirit Who came down and blank witness to Him. Praise to Thy Epiphany that gladdens all, Thou in Whose revelation the worlds are lightened!

Hymn XIII
Hymn of the Baptized
By St. Ephraem (d. 373)

Response: Brethren, sing praises, to the Son of the Lord of all; Who has bound for y'all crowns, such every bit kings long for!

1. Your garments glisten, my brethren, as snow; and off-white is your shining in the likeness of Angels!

2. In the likeness of Angels, ye accept come up, beloved, from Jordan's river, in the armour of the Holy Ghost.

3. The bridal chamber that fails non, my brethren, ye have received: and the glory of Adam's house today ye accept put on.

iv. The judgment that came of the fruit, was Adam's condemnation: but for you victory, has arisen this mean solar day.

5. Your wearable is shining, and goodly your crowns: which the Firstborn has bound for you, by the priest's manus this twenty-four hours. Woe in Paradise, did Adam receive: but you have received, glory this day.

7. The armour of victory, ye put on, my beloved: in the hour when the priest, invoked the Holy Ghost.

8. The Angels rejoice, men here below exult: in your banquet, my brethren, wherein is no foulness.

ix. The good things of Sky, my brethren, ye have received: beware of the Evil One, lest he despoil you.

10. The day when He dawned, the Heavenly King: opens for you His door, and bids you enter Eden.

eleven. Crowns that fade not abroad, are set up on your heads: hymns of praise hourly, let your mouths sing.

12. Adam by ways of the fruit, God bandage along in sorrow: but y'all He makes glad, in the bridechamber of joy.

thirteen. Who would not rejoice, in your bridechamber, my brethren? for the Father with His Son, and the Spirit rejoice in you.

fourteen. Unto you shall the Father, exist a wall of forcefulness: and the Son a Redeemer, and the Spirit a guard.

xv. Martyrs past their blood, glorify their crowns: simply yous our Redeemer, by His Blood glorifies.

16. Watchers and Angels, joy over the repentant: they shall joy over you my brethren, that unto them ye are fabricated similar.

17. The fruit which Adam, tasted not in Paradise: this 24-hour interval in your mouths, has been placed with joy.

18. Our Redeemer figured, His Trunk by the tree: whereof Adam tasted not, because he had sinned.

19. The Evil Ane made war, and subdued Adam'southward firm: through your baptism, my brethren, lo! he is subdued this solar day.

20. Bully is the victory, but today you have won: if then be ye neglect not, you shall not perish, my brethren.

21. Glory to them that are robed, glory to Adam'due south house! in the nativity that is from the water, allow them rejoice and be blessed!

22. Praise to Him Who has robed, His Churches in glory! celebrity to Him Who has magnified, the race of Adam's house.

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Source: https://www.fisheaters.com/baptism3.html

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