Liturgical Leaflet

eaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

12 January 2025 THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD Year C

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J
esus’ baptism in the Jordan River is the second “epiphany,”
i.e., the second manifestation of his identity and mission. The
Father’s voice revealed that Jesus is the “Son/Servant,” the
man filled with the Spirit of the Lord, sent to “establish justice on
the earth.”
His mission will also entail taking upon himself the weight of man-
kind’s sinfulness, as foretold in the last of the Servant’s Songs.
Jesus’ baptism reminds us of our own baptism when the Father
pronounced over us the most splendid sentence we will ever hear:
“You are my beloved son/daughter!” it is this unparalleled dignity
which entitles us to participate in this Eucharist. Let us do so with
gratitude and love.

Penitential Act Gloria

P –Coming together as God’s All –Glory to God in the high-
family, with confidence let us
ask the Lord’s forgiveness, for est, and on earth peace to people
Entrance Antiphon he is full of gentleness and com- of good will. We praise you,
(To be recited only when no En- we bless you, we adore you, we
passion. (Pause)
trance Hymn is sung.)
P –Lord Jesus, by your baptism glorify you, we give you thanks
After the Lord was bap- for your great glory, Lord God,
tized, the heavens were opened, you showed your readiness
and the Spirit descended upon to atone for our sins. Lord, heavenly King, O God, almighty
him like a dove, and the voice have mercy! Father.
All – Lord, have mercy! Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be-
of the Father thundered: This
is my beloved Son, with whom P –Lord Jesus, at your baptism gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of
I am well pleased. you were proclaimed God’s God, Son of the Father, you take
(Cf. Mt 3:16-17) beloved Son. Christ, have away the sins of the world, have
mercy!
All –Christ, have mercy! mercy on us; you take away the
Greeting sins of the world, receive our
P – In the name of the Father, P –Lord Jesus, at your baptism
you were anointed with prayer; you are seated at the
and of the Son, and of the Holy right hand of the Father, have
Spirit! the Holy Spirit. Lord, have
All –Amen! mercy! mercy on us. For you alone are
P –Grace and peace from All – Lord, have mercy! the Holy One, you alone are the
God our Father, the Lord Jesus P –May almighty God have Lord, you alone are the Most
Christ, and the Holy Spirit be mercy on us, forgive us our sins, High, Jesus Christ, with the
with you all! and bring us to everlasting life. Holy Spirit, in the glory of God
All – And with your spirit! All–Amen! the Father. Amen!

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 Collect (Opening Prayer) Responsorial Psalm Ps 104 Holy Spirit and power. He
went about doing good and
P –Almighty ever-living God, R –O bless the Lord, my soul! healing all those oppressed
who, when Christ had been bap-
* O Lord, my God, you are by the devil, for God was with
tized in the River Jordan and as
great indeed! you are clothed him.”
the Holy Spirit descended upon
him, solemnly declared him with majesty and glory, robed The Word of the Lord!
your beloved Son, grant that in light as with a cloak. You All – Thanks be to God!
your children by adoption, re- have spread out the heavens
born of water and the Holy Spir- like a tent-cloth. R. Gospel Acclamation Mk 9:7
it, may always be well pleasing * You have constructed your
to you. palace upon the waters. You All – Alleluia! Alleluia!
Through our Lord Jesus make the clouds your chariot; The heavens were opened
Christ, your Son, who lives and you travel on the wings of the and the voice of the Father
reigns with you in the unity of wind. You make the winds thundered: “This is my be-
the Holy Spirit, God, for ever your messengers, and flaming loved Son, listen to him.”
and ever. fire your ministers. R. Alleluia! Alleluia!
All – Amen!
* How manifold are your Gospel Lk 3:15-16.21-22
works, O Lord! In wisdom you The baptism of Jesus at the Jor-
have wrought them all – the dan was the first official “man-
earth is full of your creatures; ifestation” of his identity in his
the sea also, great and wide, public life. No less than God
First Reading Is 42:1-4.6-7 in which are schools without the Father Himself proclaimed
What we are about to hear is number of living things both him “beloved Son” while the
the first of the four Songs of small and great. R. Holy Spirit descended on him
“the Servant of the Lord.” All as the “Anointed of the Lord.”
Christian generations have * If you take away their
seen in him a prophetic figure breath, they perish and return P –The Lord be with you!
of Jesus of Nazareth, the one to the dust. When you send All – And with your spirit!
in whom alone the Father is forth your spirit, they are cre-
fully pleased. ated, and you renew the face of P –A reading from the holy
the earth. R. Gospel according to Luke
R –A reading from the Book of All – Glory to you, O Lord!
the Prophet Isaiah Second Reading Acts 10:34-38
Thus says the Lord: The passage we are about to The people were filled with
expectation, and all were ask-
“Here is my servant whom hear contains the beginning
ing in their hearts whether
I uphold, my chosen one with of the discourse of Peter in the John might be the Christ.
whom I am pleased, upon house of the Roman centurion John answered them all,
whom I have put my Spirit. Cornelius. This text is used saying, “I am baptizing you
He shall bring forth justice in today’s feast because of its with water, but one mightier
to the nations, not crying out, reference to Jesus whom God than I is coming. I am not wor-
not shouting, not making “anointed with the Holy Spirit thy to loosen the thongs of his
his voice heard in the street. and power.” sandals. He will baptize you
A bruised reed he shall not with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
R – A reading from the Acts of After all the people had
break, and a smoldering wick the Apostles
he shall not quench, until been baptized and Jesus also
Peter proceeded to speak had been baptized and was
he establishes justice on the praying, heaven was opened
to those gathered in the house
earth. The coastlands will wait of Cornelius, saying: “In and the Holy Spirit descend-
for his teaching. truth, I see that God shows no ed upon him in bodily form
I, the Lord, have called partiality. Rather, in every like a dove. And a voice came
you for the victory of justice, I nation, whoever fears him from heaven, “You are my be-
have grasped you by the hand. and acts uprightly is accept- loved Son; with you I am well
I formed you, and set you as a able to him. pleased.”
covenant of the people, a light You know the word that The Gospel of the Lord!
for the nations, to open the he sent to the Israelites as he All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
eyes of the blind, to bring out proclaimed peace through Je- Christ!
prisoners from confinement, sus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Homily
and from the dungeon, those
Judea, beginning in Galilee
who live in darkness.” after the baptism that John Profession of Faith
The Word of the Lord! preached, how God anointed (Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed)
All – Thanks be to God! Jesus of Nazareth with the All –I believe in one God, the Fa-
12 January 2025
ther almighty, maker of heaven C –For those who have forgot- P –Lift up your hearts!
and earth, of all things visible ten the meaning and importance All –We lift them up to the Lord!
and invisible. of their baptism: may the Holy P –Let us give thanks to the
I believe in one Lord Jesus Spirit renew in them the fruits Lord our God!
Christ, the Only Begotten Son of of his presence and make them All –It is right and just!
God, born of the Father before all once again active members of P –It is truly right and just, our
ages. God from God, Light from the Church. Let us pray! R. duty and our salvation, always
Light, true God from true God, C –For the poor, the sick and and everywhere to give you
begotten, not made, consubstan- the jobless: May they find in the thanks, Lord, holy Father, al-
tial with the Father; through him Christian community the sup- mighty and eternal God.
all things were made. For us men port and help they need. Let us For in the waters of the Jor-
and for our salvation he came pray! R. dan you revealed with signs
down from heaven, (bow)* and and wonders a new Baptism, so
C –For all of us gathered here: that through the voice that came
by the Holy Spirit was incarnate May we always be aware that
of the Virgin Mary, and became down from heaven we might
we, too, are God’s adopted come to believe in your Word
man.* For our sake he was cru- children, and please Him at all
cified under Pontius Pilate, he dwelling among us, and by the
times. Let us pray! R. Spirit’s descending in the like-
suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day in C –For all migrants, refugees ness of a dove we might know
accordance with the Scriptures. and those affected by war: that Christ your Servant has
may their right to an education, been anointed with the oil of
He ascended into heaven and is gladness and sent to bring the
seated at the right hand of the Fa- which is necessary to build a bet-
ter world, always be respected. good news to the poor.
ther. He will come again in glory And so, with the Powers of
Let us pray! R.
to judge the living and the dead heaven, we worship you con-
and his kingdom will have no end. P –Lord Jesus, at your baptism stantly on earth, and before your
I believe in the Holy Spirit, you accepted to carry the crush- majesty, without end we ac-
the Lord, the giver of life, who ing burden of our sins. May we claim:
proceeds from the Father and lighten that burden by honoring All – Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
the Son, who with the Father the commitments of our bap- of hosts. Heaven and earth are
and the Son is adored and glori- tism. We ask this through you, full of your glory. Hosanna in
fied, who has spoken through who are our brother and Lord. the highest!
the prophets. All –Amen! Blessed is he who comes in
I believe in one, holy, cath- the name of the Lord. Hosanna
olic and apostolic Church. I in the highest!
confess one Baptism for the
forgiveness of sins and I look Memorial Acclamation
forward to the resurrection P –The mystery of faith!
Preparation of the Gifts
of the dead and the life of the All – When we eat this Bread
world to come. Amen! P –Pray, brethren . . . and drink this Cup, we
All –May the Lord accept the proclaim your Death,
Prayer of the Faithful sacrifice at your hands, for the O Lord, until you come
P –Today we recall Jesus’ for- praise and glory of his name, for again!
mal investiture as “the Servant our good and the good of all his
of the Lord” who will take upon holy Church.
himself the sins of the world.
With gratitude for his generos- Prayer over the Offerings
ity, let us pray: P –Accept, O Lord, the offer-
ings we have brought to honor All – Our Father . . .
All –Lord, graciously hear us! P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
the revealing of your beloved
C –For the whole body of be- Son, so that the oblation of your All –For the kingdom, the
lievers and especially their lead- faithful may be transformed into power, and the glory are
ers: May they be the humble and the sacrifice of him who willed yours, now and for ever.
faithful servants of the Lord in in his compassion to wash away
the world of today. Let us pray! the sins of the world. Sign of Peace
R. Who lives and reigns for ever
C –For the newly baptized, es- and ever. Breaking of the Bread
pecially those who are adults: All – Amen! All – Lamb of God, you take
May they treasure the presence away the sins of the world: have
Preface of the Baptism mercy on us. (2×)
of the Holy Spirit in their hearts
of the Lord Lamb of God, you take
and always live as beloved chil-
dren of the Father. Let us pray! P –The Lord be with you! away the sins of the world:
R. All –And with your spirit! grant us peace.

Baptism of Our Lord

 Communion gifts, we humbly entreat your P –May you continue to enjoy
P –This is the Lord Jesus, the mercy, O Lord, that, faithfully lis- God’s favor, guidance, and
Lamb of God who takes upon tening to your Only Begotten Son, protection.
himself the burden of our sins. we may be your children in name All –Amen!
Blessed are those called to his and in truth.
Supper. Through Christ our Lord. P –May you be faithful to the
All – Lord, I am not worthy All – Amen! commitments of your bap-
that you should enter under tism all the days of your
my roof, but only say the word life.
and my soul shall be healed. All –Amen!

Communion Antiphon P –May almighty God bless

P –The Lord be with you. you: the Father, and the
(To be recited only when no All – And with your spirit! Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Com munion Hymn is sung.)
P –Bow down for the blessing. All – Amen!
Behold the One of whom
John said: I have seen and testi- (Pause) P –Go in peace to love and
fied that this is the Son of God. –May the Holy Spirit con- serve the Lord.
stantly guide you and mold All – Thanks be to God!
you into servants of the
Prayer after Communion Lord.
P –Nourished with these sacred All –Amen!

CALLED, GRASPED, FORMED, AND SET!

Kalakbay at Katoto

T he solemnity of today smacks of growth and

development – a gradual process of enlight-
enment, of understanding, of individuals slowly
ish Peter who was getting quite a few realizations
himself. Peter, who was as much a Jew as he was a
disciple of the Lord, was experiencing a conversion
realizing or seeing things in their totality, for their of sorts: “In truth, I see that God shows no partial-
bigger and deeper meaning. We speak here of ity.” Peter did the unthinkable and the undoable …
people seeing more than just the “light of a star,” he went inside the house of a pagan, ordinarily a
more than just romantic images of a child born in hated gentile. And in case you missed it, Cornelius
circumstances of great expectation and waiting. We was not alone. He had a full retinue of all sorts of
speak of a deeper epiphany, a greater understanding possibly at least initially unsympathetic people in
of God’s process of revealing Himself to the world. his household.

Indeed, the Baptism of the Lord counts as a big part It was before such a crowd that Peter delivered his
of the bigger mystery of the Epiphany, a feast we piece – one that “proclaimed peace through Jesus
celebrated last Sunday. Christ, who is Lord of all.” Peter, an avid Jew, was
warming up gradually to a people, who, them-
But lest we get too lost too soon on deep theological selves, were warming up to the idea of Christ as the
insights, let us start with simple things first, as can “light of all nations.”
be gleaned from the text of today’s scriptural read-
ings. We start with Isaiah, who speaks propheti- John the Baptist had some warming up to do him-
cally of what is known as the “suffering servant” self. He initially would not hear of him baptizing
of Yahweh. the Lord.

Isaiah revealed in prophecy, in the broad strokes of There is something in the need for people to gradu-
his prophetic imagination, what transpired factu- ally warm up and be gradually led to deeper reali-
ally later in history – an event that later, Paul and ties that speak to us about our lives, and about our
the evangelists would record for posterity. faith. There is something about our need to be
gradually formed, molded, and set that opens us
Cornelius, the stalwart of Roman officialdom’s up to the delight of experiencing the Lord’s epipha-
detached and cold professionalism and stand-offish nies in the midst of the ordinariness of everyday
disdain, became partner in ministry to a very Jew- life. There is definitely something about Isaiah’s

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patient prophesying, Peter’s gradually changing mally see, for as Antoine de Saint Exupery notes
perceptions about gentiles, Cornelius’ growing wisely, ‘what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
trust in the power of the Risen Lord, and John’s It takes formation to be able “to read God in daily
gradual sense of self-surrender to the one who has life,” to find God in all things pleasant or unpleas-
come to bring justice to the nations, that can speak ant, and to see “ His blood upon the rose, and in the
to us modern men and women who cannot wait, a skies the glory of His eyes.”
people who cannot afford to waste time gracefully
getting formed, trained, and set for a mission much Isaiah today tells us what this formation is all about.
bigger than anyone of us, much greater than all of It is all about allowing God to be God, leaving Him
us put together. room to do with us what He wills, to form us into
a people ever at the ready to be extensions of His
But the waiting, the surrendering, the molding, presence in a world that needs more and more of
the forming, along with the calling and the setting, God’s wondrous, caring, benevolent, and constant
eventually paid off for John, his disciples, and all love.
those who were willing to give the preacher from
notorious Galilee a chance. Their investment of The Trinitarian God reveals Himself even in our
time paid off today. times, even in what is perceived as His hiddenness.
He whispers to us in our joy, and shouts at us in
The world that we live in, is a world that wants our pain, as one author puts it. In His way of com-
instant answers to nagging questions. municating Himself to us, He gives us, not so much
information, as formation. Like Isaiah, we can
Alas, today’s feast tells us that the answer to our only see clearly, if we allow ourselves to be “called
questions, the answer to God’s mysterious ways is for the victory of justice,” “grasped by the hand,”
not information. Today’s feast teaches us that it is “formed” and “set” as “a covenant of the people, a
not so much information, as FORMATION, that light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind,
we people need.
to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from
It takes formation to see what others do not nor- the dungeon, those who live in darkness.”