Sunday Preparation

Scripture Resources for Catechists

• Opening the Word from FORMED online
• Seasonal Resources from Be My Disciples
• Cycle A, B and C Resources - from Loyola Press (2018-19 is Year C, The Gospel of Luke)
• Advent and Christmas Lectionary Meditations - Fr. James Alison
• Girardian Lectionary - comments and exegesis on the Sunday Scriptures
• Lesson Strategies from Be My Disciples
• Sunday Connection for this week from Loyola Press
• Finding God - the Online Catechists Helper from Loyola Press (log in required)
• Sunday Homilies - from All Saints
• Midweek Reflection (signup) - From Liturgical Publications
• The Text This Week - Lectionary, Scripture Study, Worship Links and Resources 
• Audio of Daily Mass Readings - from the USCCB
• Video Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings - from the USCCB

A new weekly Bible Study to help parishioners prepare for a fruitful celebration of the Sunday Eucharist by studying prayerfully the Sunday Scriptures. This program will also draw on documents from Bishops, Popes and the Vatican on interpreting the Scriptures. It will focus upon “The Kerygma”, that is, the proclamation of the story of Jesus which leads people to conversion of heart and Intentional Discipleship.

Each meeting will include a 'Lectio Divina' on one of the readings, letting the Scriptures speak to our hearts,  and direct us in ways both spiritual and pastoral. It will also introduce week by week various different methods of studying the Scriptures, as taught in the following Magisterial documents, and to practice applying them to the Sunday Scriptures: 

• Dei Verbum                                                      Vatican II                                                          1963
• The Historicity of the Gospels                     Pontifical Biblical Commission                    1964
• The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church                                                      PBC         1993
• The Jewish People and their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible          PBC          2002
• The Bible and Morality                                  Pontifical Biblical Commission                     2008
• Verbum Domini                                              Pope Benedict XVI                                           2010
• Preaching the Mystery of Faith                   US Conference of Catholic Bishops             2012
• Homiletic Directory                                       Congregation for Divine Worship                  2015

I suggest participants use At Home With the Word which contains the Readings fro every Sunday of the year. I will have copies available when we meet. Cost $7.00

Meets on Wednesdays:,  1:00 PM to 2:30 PM and 7:15 PM to 8:45 PM in the Juan Diego Room
(South Campus).

Presenter Jim Hynes
 

Date	Lectionary	Documents
12/11	Christmas	Homiletic Directory n.110-119
12/18	Holy Family & Epiphany	Homiletic Directory n.120-130
01/08	Baptism of the Lord & World Day of Peace	Homiletic Directory n.131-139
01/15	2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time	The Historicity of the Gospels
01/22	3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time/Sunday of the Word of God	Aperuit Illis (Pope Francis)

 

 

January 12, 2020

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 (The Baptism of Jesus)

'Sunday Connection' Scripture Commentary
RCL/Benziger Gospel Reflections

Question of the Week (Adults): What evidence can you offer that you are a faithful servant of the Lord?

Question of the Week (Children): When has the Holy Spirit helped you treat someone fairly?

Catechism Connection

444 - The voice of the Father calls Jesus his "Beloved Son"
535, 536 - The Baptism of Jesus
608 - Jesus is the Lamb of God
701 - The Dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit
713 - The Characteristics of the Messiah
1223, 1224 - The origin of Christian Baptism
1286 - Jesus is anointed Messiah by the Holy Spirit

See the Online E-Book of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Saints This Week

January 12  St. Marguerite Bourgeoys
January 13 Saint Hilary
January 15 Saint Paul the Hermit
January 16 Saint Berard and Companions
January 17 Saint Anthony of Egypt
January 18 Saint Charles of Sezze

Year A – The Baptism of the Lord

The story of Jesus being Baptized by John is one of the few which appears in all of the gospels. This is because of the importance of the event, both for Jesus and his disciples.

For Jesus, it was the day when God his Father revealed himself to him most clearly, and confirmed his identity and mission.

For his disciples, it is an event of great significance, too. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Peter gives the significance of the Baptism of the Lord for Jesus' work and mission: "God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil."

But why was Jesus Baptized at all? John the Baptist tried to dissuade him, we are told: "It is I who need Baptism from you," he said, "and yet you come to me!" John is really amazed, and so he should be.

It seems to me that Jesus wanted to be Baptized to share our lot. He didn't need to do anything as a sign of repentance for sin, but he chose to do so anyway, to share in everything which afflicts humanity.

We say that Jesus took on everything human when he was born. We say that he took on, or took away, our sins. We say this in the prayers of the Mass. So here in this story, we see Jesus doing just this. He joins himself closely to we who are sinners by his Baptism. That is one reason why in Baptism we say Jesus "takes away our sins".

But the sharing goes the other way, too. Jesus shares what we have - our sins - and we share in what he has: he is God's only Son, the Beloved, upon whom God's favor rests. In Baptism we too become God's chosen sons and daughters, and receive his favor.