Creighton University's Online Ministries
The Baptism of the Lord

Creighton University's Online Ministries

The Baptism of the Lord
Daily Prayer

"Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise."

Entrance Antiphon:
After the Lord was baptized, the heavens were opened,
and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove,
And the voice of the Father thundered:
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17

Collect:

Almighty and ever-living God,
who when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan,
and ask the Holy Spirit descended upon him,
solemnly declared him your beloved Son,
grant that your children by adoption,
reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
may always be well pleasing to you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

or

O God, whose Only Begotten Son
has appeared in our very flesh,
grant, we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed
through him whom we recognize as outwardly like ourselves.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirt, one God, forever and ever.

Today's Readings:

Daily Meditation:

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. ...
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. Isaiah 42

John tried to prevent him, saying,
"I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Matthew 3

The Baptism of Jesus is about so much. Jesus becomes fully one with us.
Taking on our role - in need of repentence - innocent though he was.
He is taking up the rest of his mission - to die completely for our sins.
He will, in the Sacrament of our baptism into him,
allow us to die with him that we might live forever with him.
This is the feast of our mission as his followers.
There is a universal call to holiness in the church.
In him, we are all on mission to reveal the power of love.

May we be a light for the world by the way we live our baptism
every day of our lives.

Today's Daily Reflection

Intercessions:
Our Redeemer desired to be baptized in the Jordan by John:
let us make our petition to him:
    Lord, send forth your Spirit upon us.

Christ, Servant of God, the Father acknowledged you
as his own Son, with whom he was pleased,
- send forth your Spirit upon us.

Christ, Chosen One of God, you did not break the crushed reed,
or extinguish the wavering flame,
- have mercy on all who are seeking you in good faith.

Christ, Son of God, the Father called you to be a light to the nations in the new covenant,
- open the eyes of the blind by the waters of baptism.

Christ, Savior of us all, the Father anointed you with the Holy Spirit
for the ministry of salvation,
- lead us all to see you and to believe in you,
that we may have eternal life.

Christ, our Hope, you lead those in darkness to the light of salvation,
- receive our departed brothers and sisters into your kingdom.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, this incredible season comes to an end today
but not the joy I have discovered in these weeks.

I can sense it - your summons in my life
and the response I feel growing in my heart.
I want to take up the mission you are calling me to
and follow in your path of service.

Thank you for making me one of your children
born in water and your Spirit.
Help me to listen to your voice in my life
and remember each day the happiness
of sharing the bond of baptism with you.

With your help, I can stay faithful to your calling
and celebrate my mission as your follower.
Thank you for this great gift!
May I be a light in the world for you.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
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