Cristy Li

When Jesus had been baptized, just as He came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him and a Voice from Heaven said, “This is My Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” –Matthew 3:16-17 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: EWTN

The Servant, A Light to the Nations

Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit

upon Him, He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up His voice or make

it heard on the street; a bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not

quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until He has

established justice in the earth and the coastlands wait for His teaching.

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the

earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who

walk in it:

I am the Lord, I have called you righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I

have given you as a Covenant to the people a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the Lord, that is My Name; My glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See the

former things have come to pass and new things I now declare; Before they spring forth, I tell

you of them. –Isaiah 42:1-9

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of

Heaven has come near.’ This is the One whom the Prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,

‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord,
make His paths straight.’ (Isaiah 40:3)

Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist and his food was

locust’s and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem all all Judea were going out to him and

all the region along the Jordan, they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their

sins.

When he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood

of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do

not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; For I tell you, God is able

from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the

trees; Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

I baptize you with water for repentance but One who is more powerful than I is coming after

me; I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His

winnowing fork is in His hand and He will clear His threshing floor and will gather His wheat

into the granary nut the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.’

The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the River Jordan to be baptized by him. John would

have prevented him saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You and do You come to me?’

Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; For it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all

righteousness.”

Then John consented and when Jesus had been baptized, just as He came up from the water,

suddenly the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove

and alighting on Him and a Voice from Heaven said, “This is My Son, the Beloved with whom I

am well pleased.” –Matthew 3:1-17

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

Baptism Makes Us Son and Daughters of the Father -Deacon Omar Gutierrez, Natl Catholic Register

Beloved, We love God because He first loved us.
Those who say, “I love God” and hate their brothers or sisters
are liars; For those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
1 John 4:19-20

God Is Love

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God

and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love! God’s love was

revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live

through Him. (John 3:16-17) In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent

His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also

ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; If we love one another, God lives in us

and His love is perfected in us!

By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us because He has given is of His Spirit and we

have seen and do testify that the Father has sent His Son as the Savior of the world!

God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God and they abide in God — So that we

have known and believe the love of God has for us.

God is love and those who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them. Love has been

perfected among us in this: That we may have boldness on the day of judgment because as He

is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to

do with punishment and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because He

(God) first loved us. Those who say, “I love God” and hate their brothers or sisters are liars!

For those who who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God

whom they have not seen. The Commandment we have from Him is this: Those who love God

must love their brothers and sisters also. (See: John 1:1)

Faith Conquers the World

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves

the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God

and obey His Commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey His Commandments

and His Commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world

and this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith! Who is it that conquers the world but

the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!

Testimony Concerning the Son of God

This is the One who came by Water and Blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with

the Water and the Blood and the Spirit is the One that testifies , for the Spirit is the Truth!

There are Three that testify: The Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these Three agree. If

we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; For this testimony of God that He

has testified to His Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts.

Those who do not believe in God have made Him a liar by not believing in the testimony that

God has given concerning His Son and this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life and this

life is in His Son! Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God

does not have life.

Epilogue

I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God (Jesus!)

so that you may know that you have eternal life.

This is the boldness we have in Him (Jesus!) that if we ask anything according to His will, He

hears us and if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained

the requests made of Him. If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal

sin, you will ask and God will give life to such a one — to those whose sin is not mortal. There is

sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that.

All wrongdoing is sin but there is sin that is not mortal.

We know that those who are born of God do not sin but the one who was born of God protects

them and evil does not touch them. We know that we are God’s children and that the whole

world lies under the power of the evil one (Satan) and we know that the Son of God (Jesus) has

come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true! We are in Him

who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ! He is the true God and eternal life!

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  –1 John 4:7-21; 5:1-21

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life Today
  Though The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

Help to Support Our Friends at Mission For the Homeless, Oakland, CA

Seal Doorposts With Divine Mercy: A Powerful Form of Protection During Coronavirus Pandemic

Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud to those who go astray after false gods…I delight to do Your will, O My God! Your Law is within my heart. –Psalm 40:4;8 (NRSVCE)
Image Courtesy: Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word

Thanksgiving For Deliverance and Prayer For Help

I waited patiently for the Lord, He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the

desolate pit, out of the miry bog and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a

new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust

in the Lord. Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to

those who go astray after false gods. You have multiplied, O Lord My God, Your wondrous

deeds and Your thoughts toward us; None can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell

them, they would be more than can be counted. Sacrifice and offering You do not desire but

You have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering, You have not required. Then I

said, “Here I am; In the Scroll of the Book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O My

God! Your Law is within my heart.” I have told The Glad (Good) News of deliverance in the

great congregation; See I have not restrained my lips as You know, O Lord. I have not hidden

Your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have

not concealed Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness keep me safe forever. For evils have

encompassed me without number, my iniquities have overtaken me until I cannot see; They are

more than the hairs of my head and my heart fails me. Be pleased O Lord, to deliver me; O

Lord, make haste to help me. Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch

away my life; Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt. Let those

be appalled because of their shame who say to me, ‘Aha, Aha!’ May all who seek You rejoice and

be glad in You; May those who love Your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” As for

me, I am poor and needy but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer;

Do not delay, O My God. –Psalm 40:1-17

You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life Today
Through ‘The Good News‘ of Christ Jesus!

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the Glory about to be revealed to us. — We know that All Things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. –Romans 8:18; 28   Image Courtesy: Susana Rosende

O Lord, what are human beings that You regard them or mortals that You think of them?

They are like a breath; their days are like a passing shadow.  –Psalm 144:3-4

Boasting About Tomorrow

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a

year there, doing business and making money.” Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will

bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 

–James 4:13-14

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life Today
  Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

Future Glory

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the Glory

about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the

children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility not of its own will but by the will of

the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to

decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole

creation has been groaning in labor pains until now and not only the creation but we ourselves,

who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the

redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For

who hopes for what is seen? If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought but

that very (Holy) Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. God, who searches the heart

knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the (Holy) Spirit intercedes for the Saints

according to the will of God.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called

according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed

to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn within a large family and those

who He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified and those whom He

justified He also glorified!  –Romans 8:18-30

The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; It is able to judge the thoughts
and intentions of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12

The Power of the Gospel

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel;

It is the power of God for Salvation

to everyone who has faith,

to the Jew and also to the Greek (Gentile).

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith:

As it is written:

‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’ (See: Habakkuk 2:4)  –Romans 1:16-17

 

The Guilt of Humankind

For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven

against all ungodliness and wickedness of those

who by their wickedness suppress the truth.

For what can be known about God is plain to them

because God has shown it to them.

Ever since the creation of the world, His eternal power

and Divine Nature, invisible though they are,

have been understood and seen through the things

He has made! So they are without excuse;

For though they knew God, they did not honor Him

as God or give thanks to Him but they became futile

in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools

and they exchanged the glory of the Immortal God

for images resembling a mortal human being or birds

or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts

to the degrading of their bodies among themselves

because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie

and worshiped and served the creature (Satan)

rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions.

Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural

and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse

with women, were consumed with passion for one another.

Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their

own persons the due penalty for their error.

Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God,

God gave them up to a debased mind and to

things that should not be done.

They were filled with every kind of wickedness,

evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder,

strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers,

God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil,

rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless,

ruthless. They know God’s decree, that those who practice

such things deserve to die — yet they not only do them

but even applaud others who practice them. –Romans 1:16-32

• You May Know the Forgiveness of Sin, Joy and Salvation Today
  Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!

“Make Someone’s Day – Do a Random Act of Kindness.”  -Image Courtesy: Franciscan Sisters

• Do not neglect hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained Angels
  without knowing it. –Hebrews 13:2

• Jesus taught, “In everything — treat people the same way you want them to treat you,
  for this is the Law of the Prophets.” (See: Leviticus 19:18)  –Matthew 7:12

Faith Without Works Is Dead

What good is it my brothers or sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?

Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says

to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” yet you do not supply their bodily needs,

what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead.

Someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your

works and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is One; you do well.

Even the demons believe and shudder. (See: Luke:4:34)

Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren?

Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the alter?

(See: Genesis 22:1-11) You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was brought

to completion by the works. Thus the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God

and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” (See: Genesis 15:6) he was called the friend of

God.  (See: 2 Chronicles 20:7;  Isaiah 41:8)  You see that a person is justified by works and not

by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she

welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? (See: Joshua 2:1-24)

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. 

James 2:14-26

• You May Know the Joy of Salvation and Eternal Life Today
  Through The Good News of Christ Jesus!