Book of Isaiah 42,1-4.6-7.
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Psalms 29(28),1-2.3-4.3.9-10.
A psalm of David. Give to the LORD, you heavenly beings, give to the LORD glory and might;
Give to the LORD the glory due God's name. Bow down before the LORD'S holy splendor!
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is power; the voice of the LORD is splendor.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. All in his palace say, "Glory!"
The LORD sits enthroned above the flood! The LORD reigns as king forever!
Acts of the Apostles 10,34-38.
Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word (that) he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 3,13-17.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
IT IS BETTER TO GIVE IN
"Give in for now." –Matthew 3:15
The first words spoken by Jesus in Matthew's Gospel are: "Give in for now" (Mt 3:15). On this last day of Christmas, the word is: "Give in." Giving in is a Christmas hallmark. Mary yielded when Gabriel announced that she would be the mother of Jesus, saying: "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me" (Lk 1:38). Joseph "decided to divorce [Mary] quietly" when he realized she was pregnant with a child that he had not fathered (Mt 1:19), yet he gave in to God's will and "received her into his home as his wife" (Mt 1:24).
Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. Both Jesus and John gave in to God's will. John rightly realized that Jesus should not be baptized by him. Yet Jesus told John to "give in for now" and John obeyed (Mt 3:15). Jesus also embraced His Father's will as He "voluntarily submitted Himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners." His "gesture is a manifestation of His self-emptying" (Catechism, 1224). "He is submitting Himself entirely to His Father's will: out of love He consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins" (Catechism, 536).
God's thoughts are high above ours (Is 55:8-9). There are times when His requirements don't make sense to us. Therefore, He simply asks us to give in. In what areas of your life is God calling you to give in to His will? Live your Baptism and die to yourself. Give Jesus the Christmas present He wants: "Give in."
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