WEEK SEVEN: PREPARATION AND THE CALL OF THE DISCIPLES Day 1
"MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Matthew 3: 14-17: The Baptism of Jesus:
"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."
Read the Reflection; then pray using Matthew 3: 14-17; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
Jesus approaches John for the baptism of repentance. John tries to refuse Jesus' request by reminding him that it is he who is in need of repentance. John was much revered by the people as a great prophet and holy man. The Jewish leadership was even willing to consider him as the Messiah sent from God. Yet, in the presence of Jesus, John sees himself as unfit to loosen his sandal straps (Luke 3: 16). Only non-Jewish slaves were assigned the task of loosening the sandal straps of dinner guests before washing their feet. John sees himself as even lower than a non- Jewish slave in Jesus' presence. And yet Jesus humbles himself even lower than John by asking to receive the baptism of repentance. The Sinless One publicly identifies himself as sinner in our stead, as the baptism of repentance was received only by sinners. Jesus, being our kinsperson- redeemer, takes upon himself our burden of sin, and offers repentance and redemption through His own passion and death. His baptism is a sign of His eventual sacrifice on the cross, and a true emptying of Himself in His identification with us as sinners. Hence, as Paul says, we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ." Taken from Mold me as Your Disciple by Michael Fonseca.
I contemplated the humanity of Jesus this morning, He being the new Adam, the undefiled Adam. Sitting in the desert being tempted as man by the devil and denying sin to enter His life, not even entertaining the thought. Then I watched as Jesus submitted Himself to the authority given to John the Baptist. This authority comes from His Father in Heaven thru John the Baptist. Jesus humbled himself as man and receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not as God but as man.
Are we willing to submit ourselves to the authority of God? I see the devil at play in twisting the truth, twisting the will of God thru man. There is strength when we submit ourselves to God's authority. Jesus could of very easily said, I do not need John the Baptist, God is my Father but He fulfills all righteousness and submits himself to he that was ordained from birth to do His Fathers will faithfully.
What is God saying to you?
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
"MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Matthew 3: 14-17: The Baptism of Jesus:
"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."
Read the Reflection; then pray using Matthew 3: 14-17; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
Jesus approaches John for the baptism of repentance. John tries to refuse Jesus' request by reminding him that it is he who is in need of repentance. John was much revered by the people as a great prophet and holy man. The Jewish leadership was even willing to consider him as the Messiah sent from God. Yet, in the presence of Jesus, John sees himself as unfit to loosen his sandal straps (Luke 3: 16). Only non-Jewish slaves were assigned the task of loosening the sandal straps of dinner guests before washing their feet. John sees himself as even lower than a non- Jewish slave in Jesus' presence. And yet Jesus humbles himself even lower than John by asking to receive the baptism of repentance. The Sinless One publicly identifies himself as sinner in our stead, as the baptism of repentance was received only by sinners. Jesus, being our kinsperson- redeemer, takes upon himself our burden of sin, and offers repentance and redemption through His own passion and death. His baptism is a sign of His eventual sacrifice on the cross, and a true emptying of Himself in His identification with us as sinners. Hence, as Paul says, we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ." Taken from Mold me as Your Disciple by Michael Fonseca.
I contemplated the humanity of Jesus this morning, He being the new Adam, the undefiled Adam. Sitting in the desert being tempted as man by the devil and denying sin to enter His life, not even entertaining the thought. Then I watched as Jesus submitted Himself to the authority given to John the Baptist. This authority comes from His Father in Heaven thru John the Baptist. Jesus humbled himself as man and receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not as God but as man.
Are we willing to submit ourselves to the authority of God? I see the devil at play in twisting the truth, twisting the will of God thru man. There is strength when we submit ourselves to God's authority. Jesus could of very easily said, I do not need John the Baptist, God is my Father but He fulfills all righteousness and submits himself to he that was ordained from birth to do His Fathers will faithfully.
What is God saying to you?
Dear Father, I offer myself to You this day, I thank You for the passion of Christ that strengthens me. I pray for a friend who is in an incubator with Covid, prayers for his family Lord in all that is going on in their world. Thank You Father for this day and all it has to offer, may I learn from it and serve You well. Amen.
Mary, Queen of Heaven, Faithful Servant, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Hope of the Sick, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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