Scripture Scribbles: January 9, 2022
the Gospel
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
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 Son;
with you I am well pleased.”
the devotion
As we read about Jesus’ Baptism in our Gospel today, let us reflect upon our own Baptism.
Many of us may have been baptized as babies, only weeks or months after our birth, and have no memory of this day. Some of us may have been baptized later in life and can recall details of the ceremony and the day. Whether we remember that day or not, our Baptism is possibly the most important experience we have ever had - the graces of this sacrament can be recalled and lived out each day of our lives!
In paragraph 1216, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift....We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own.” Absolutely amazing! We give Him nothing and, in return, God gives us this most precious gift! We are cleansed of all sin and become a new creation in the Holy Spirit.
We have been given countless gifts in our Baptism. To name a few…
“The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification:
- enabling them to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him through the theological virtues;
- giving them the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
- allowing them to grow in goodness through the moral virtues” (CCC1266).
At any moment we can pray and ask the Lord to make effective the graces of our Baptism.
I often pray this simple prayer: “Lord, please ignite within me the gifts and graces of my Baptism that I may have the strength to…”
Our Baptism is so much more than a day we had water and oil poured onto our foreheads; it is the day we were freed from original sin and became members of the Body of Christ. “The baptized have ‘put on Christ’” – let us live in the power and splendour of these graces as we go forth today (CCC 1227).
Today’s devotion was written by Kaitlin Gilday.
