Father Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on today’s Gospel, Sunday, January 7, 2024, titled “You are my beloved Son, in you, I am pleased”
***
With the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate today, the liturgical season of Christmas concludes.
The baptism of Jesus is the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as his suffering Servant. He allows himself to be counted among the sinners; He is already the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; He already anticipates the baptism of his death on the cross. He submits himself entirely to the will of his Father: out of love, he accepts the baptism of death for the remission of our sins. To this acceptance responds the voice of the Father, who places all his pleasure in his Son (cf. Catechism 535 s.).
This feast reminds us of our baptism and makes us discover that in Baptism we have received the seed of a treasure that is faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which makes us children of God in Christ and introduces us to the community of faith: the Church, a treasure that we must care for with all our interest and affection; and seed that we must let grow so that it bears abundant fruit.
The Word of God invites you today to take your faith seriously, to take care of it so that it becomes stronger every day, despite your weakness or, better, counting on it, and handing it over to the Lord so that the Holy Spirit can carry out in you the work of holiness as He wants to do it.
And what can you do to make your faith grow and mature? Firstly, welcome the word of God in the gospel as addressed to you: you are my beloved son. This is the “conducting thread” of the entire Christian being: that God loves you freely and is making a story of love and salvation with you. This is the key. Discover that everything is a gift, everything is grace, everything is a work of the Lord that you must welcome into your life.
Therefore, – as the gospel says – you must listen to Jesus Christ: with an attitude of humility, simplicity, trust… of letting yourself be taught by Him, who is the only Teacher. And with the Holy Spirit, let the Word shape your heart so that your life adjusts to the will of God.
It is also necessary that you cultivate your spiritual life. Prayer is necessary. Pray and, not only when you have problems, but every day, as the most natural thing you can do with God, your Father. And pray with a living and sincere prayer. A prayer of petition in the Spirit, because we do not know how to ask for what is best for us; but also a prayer of praise, which is the echo of the presence of the Spirit making your life new.
Also, participate in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist and Penance. And do good.
And all this is lived in the Church, which is the family of those who believe in Jesus Christ. You cannot live faith alone, in an individualistic way. No. God has not created you for loneliness, but for relationship, for communion and for donation.
And all this is a path that will culminate in the goal, which is heaven, where neither eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor can man even imagine what God has prepared for those who love him.
Open your heart to the Lord! Do not be afraid! He who began a good work in you will himself bring it to completion!
You are my beloved Son, in you I am pleased: Commentary Fr. Jorge Miró
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Father Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on today’s Gospel, Sunday, January 7, 2024, titled “You are my beloved Son, in you, I am pleased”
***
With the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate today, the liturgical season of Christmas concludes.
The baptism of Jesus is the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as his suffering Servant. He allows himself to be counted among the sinners; He is already the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; He already anticipates the baptism of his death on the cross. He submits himself entirely to the will of his Father: out of love, he accepts the baptism of death for the remission of our sins. To this acceptance responds the voice of the Father, who places all his pleasure in his Son (cf. Catechism 535 s.).
This feast reminds us of our baptism and makes us discover that in Baptism we have received the seed of a treasure that is faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which makes us children of God in Christ and introduces us to the community of faith: the Church, a treasure that we must care for with all our interest and affection; and seed that we must let grow so that it bears abundant fruit.
The Word of God invites you today to take your faith seriously, to take care of it so that it becomes stronger every day, despite your weakness or, better, counting on it, and handing it over to the Lord so that the Holy Spirit can carry out in you the work of holiness as He wants to do it.
And what can you do to make your faith grow and mature? Firstly, welcome the word of God in the gospel as addressed to you: you are my beloved son. This is the “conducting thread” of the entire Christian being: that God loves you freely and is making a story of love and salvation with you. This is the key. Discover that everything is a gift, everything is grace, everything is a work of the Lord that you must welcome into your life.
Therefore, – as the gospel says – you must listen to Jesus Christ: with an attitude of humility, simplicity, trust… of letting yourself be taught by Him, who is the only Teacher. And with the Holy Spirit, let the Word shape your heart so that your life adjusts to the will of God.
It is also necessary that you cultivate your spiritual life. Prayer is necessary. Pray and, not only when you have problems, but every day, as the most natural thing you can do with God, your Father. And pray with a living and sincere prayer. A prayer of petition in the Spirit, because we do not know how to ask for what is best for us; but also a prayer of praise, which is the echo of the presence of the Spirit making your life new.
Also, participate in the sacraments, especially in the Eucharist and Penance. And do good.
And all this is lived in the Church, which is the family of those who believe in Jesus Christ. You cannot live faith alone, in an individualistic way. No. God has not created you for loneliness, but for relationship, for communion and for donation.
And all this is a path that will culminate in the goal, which is heaven, where neither eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor can man even imagine what God has prepared for those who love him.
Open your heart to the Lord! Do not be afraid! He who began a good work in you will himself bring it to completion!
Reflection by Bishop Enrique Díaz: “He who remains in me and I in him, bears abundant fruit”
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