TODAY is also an epiphany - St Johns - Roman Catholic ...

TODAY is also an epiphany
                The Baptism of the Lord —JANUARY 9, 2022
Today, at the conclusion of the Liturgical Season of Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of the
Baptism of the Lord. The liturgy calls us to more fully get to know Jesus, whose birth we have
just celebrated; and for this reason the Gospel (cf. Lk 3:15 -16, 21-22) illustrates two important
elements: Jesus’ relationship with the people and Jesus’ relationship with the Father.

In the narrative of the Baptism, administered to Jesus by John the Baptist in the waters of the
Jordan, we see first and foremost the role of the people. Jesus is in the midst of the people. This
is not just background scenery, but is an essential component of the event. Before immersing
himself in the water, Jesus ‘immerses’ himself in the crowd; he joins it, fully taking on the human
condition, sharing everything, except sin. In his divine holiness, full of grace and mercy, the Son
of God became flesh precisely to take upon himself and take away the sin of the world: taking on
our miseries, our human condition. Thus today’s event is also an epiphany, because by going to
have himself baptized by John, in the midst of the repentant people, Jesus manifests the logic
and meaning of his mission.

By joining the people who ask John for the Baptism of conversion, Jesus shares with them the
deep desire for inner renewal. And the Holy Spirit, who descends upon him “in bodily form, as a
dove” (v. 22), is a sign that with Jesus a new world is being initiated, a ‘new creation’ in which
all those who welcome Jesus into their life participate. The words of the Father are also
addressed to each of us, that we may be reborn with Christ in Baptism: “Thou art my beloved
son; with thee I am well pleased” (v. 22). This Fatherly love, which all of us received on the day
of our Baptism, is a flame that was lit in our heart, and needs to be kindled by means of prayer
and charity.

The second element emphasized by Luke the Evangelist is that, after his immersion in the people
and in the waters of the Jordan, Jesus ‘immerses’ himself in prayer, that is, in communion with
the Father. Baptism is the beginning of Jesus ’ public ministry, of his mission in the world as the
envoy of the Father in order to manifest his goodness and his love for mankind. This mission is
fulfilled in constant and perfect union with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. The Church ’s
mission too, and that of each of us, in order to be faithful and fruitful, is called to ‘graft’
ourselves onto that of Jesus. It means regenerating continually in prayer, evangelization and the
apostolate, in order to bear a clear Christian witness not according to human designs, but
according to the plan and style of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a propitious opportunity to
renew with gratitude and conviction the promises made at our Baptism, by committing ourselves
to live in harmony with it daily. It is also very important, as I have said to you many times, to
know the date of our Baptism. I could ask: ‘Who among you knows the date of his or her
Baptism?’. Not everyone, to be sure. If some of you do not know it, when you get home, ask
your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents, family friends.... Ask: ‘On what date
was I baptized?’. And then, do not forget it: let it be a date kept in your heart to be celebrated
every year.

May Jesus, who saved us not for our own merits but in order to realize the immense goodness of
the Father, make us merciful toward all. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, be our guide and
our model.
                                                                          POPE FRANCIS, January 13, 2019

hoy también es una epifanía
                Fiesta del Bautismo del Señor — 9 de eNERO, 2022
Hoy, al final del tiempo litúrgico de Navidad, celebramos la fiesta del Bautismo del Señor. La liturgia
nos llama a conocer con más plenitud a Jesús, de quien recientemente hemos celebrado el
nacimiento; y para ello, el Evangelio (cf. Lc 3, 15-16.21-22) ilustra dos elementos importantes: la
relación de Jesús con la gente y la relación de Jesús con el Padre.

En el relato del bautismo, conferido por Juan el Bautista a Jesús en las aguas del Jordán, vemos ante
todo el papel del pueblo. Jesús está en medio del pueblo. No es solo un fondo de la escena, sino un
componente esencial del evento. Antes de sumergirse en el agua, Jesús “se sumerge” en la multitud,
se une a ella asumiendo plenamente la condición humana, compartiendo todo, excepto el pecado. En
su santidad divina, llena de gracia y misericordia, el Hijo de Dios se hizo carne para tomar sobre sí y
quitar el pecado del mundo: tomar nuestras miserias, nuestra condición humana. Por eso, hoy
también es una epifanía, porque yendo a bautizarse por Juan, en medio de la gente penitente de su
pueblo, Jesús manifiesta la lógica y el significado de su misión.

Uniéndose al pueblo que pide a Juan el bautismo de conversión, Jesús también comparte el profundo
deseo de renovación interior. Y el Espíritu Santo que desciende sobre Él «en forma corporal, como
una paloma» (v.22) es la señal de que con Jesús comienza un nuevo mundo, una “nueva creación”
que incluye a todos los que acogen a Cristo en su la vida. También a cada uno de nosotros, que
hemos renacido con Cristo en el bautismo, están dirigidas las palabras del Padre: «Tú eres mi Hijo, el
amado: en ti he puesto mi complacencia» (v. 22). Este amor del Padre, que hemos recibido todos
nosotros el día de nuestro bautismo, es una llama que ha sido encendida en nuestros corazones y
necesita que la alimentemos con la oración y la caridad.

El segundo elemento enfatizado por el evangelista Lucas es que después de la inmersión en el pueblo
y en las aguas del Jordán, Jesús se “sumergió” en la oración, es decir, en la comunión con el Padre. El
bautismo es el comienzo de la vida pública de Jesús, de su misión en el mundo como enviado del
Padre para manifestar su bondad y su amor por los hombres. Esta misión se realiza en una unión
constante y perfecta con el Padre y el Espíritu Santo.

También la misión de la Iglesia y la de cada uno de nosotros, para ser fiel y fructífera, está llamada a
“injertarse” en la de Jesús. Se trata de regenerar continuamente en la oración, la evangelización y el
apostolado, para dar un claro testimonio cristiano, no según los proyectos humanos, sino según el
plan y el estilo de Dios.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, la fiesta del Bautismo del Señor es una ocasión propicia para renovar
con gratitud y convicción las promesas de nuestro Bautismo, comprometiéndonos a vivir diariamente
en coherencia con él. También es muy importante, como os he dicho varias veces, saber la fecha de
nuestro Bautismo. Podría preguntar: “¿Quién de vosotros sabe la fecha de su bautismo?”. No todos,
seguro. Si alguno de vosotros no la conoce, al volver a casa, que se lo pregunte a sus padres, a los
abuelos, a los tíos, a los padrinos, a los amigos de la familia... Preguntad: “¿En qué día me han
bautizado?”. Y luego no os olvidéis de ella: es una fecha que se guarda en el corazón para celebrarla
cada año.

Jesús, que nos ha salvado no por nuestros méritos sino para actuar la inmensa bondad del Padre, nos
haga misericordiosos con todos. ¡Qué la Virgen María, Madre de la Misericordia, sea nuestra guía y
nuestro modelo!
                                                                               PAPA FRANCISCO 13 de enero/2019

January 12, 19 and 26, 2022 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
             The Joy and Struggles of Family:
  Revealing the Wisdom in Pope Francis’s Amoris Laetitia.
Bishop Wayne Lobsinger (Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton) will
be joining us on January 12th and 19th, and Mrs. Teresa Hartnett (Director
of Family Ministry, Diocese of Hamilton) will lead on the 26th.

          REGISTER FOR ONE OR ALL SESSIONS HERE

From Bishop Crosby’s Heart to Heart
                                                                 January 7, 2022 (#455)

STORIES OF A GENERATION WITH POPE FRANCIS is the
title of a warm, uplifting and inspirational series on NETFLIX. The series
began on December 25th – and is based on the Pope’s 2018 book, Sharing
the Wisdom of Time, published by Loyola Press. The series showcases
stories from people over 70 from all quarters of the globe, including the Pope
himself, as they impart their life experiences to young filmmakers. Each of its
four one-hour episodes is devoted to a central theme: “Love”, “Dream”,
“Struggle”, and “Work”. There are a few famous names among the stories,
including Martin Scorsese and Jane Goodall, but most of those who are
presented have never lived in the spotlight! If you subscribe to NETFLIX, it is
well worth a watch!

GIVEN THE HIGH TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THE OMICRON
VARIANT, and the need to isolate if one is infected, Pastors have been advised
that if they or an Associate test positive for COVID-19 and are required to isolate,
they are to inform parishioners through the Parish Website and by notices
published on doors of the Parish Office and Church that the Parish is closed for the
isolation time and will remain closed until a negative result is received. A few of our
Parishes, including the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, are closed this
weekend as Priests complete the required five-day isolation. Parishioners are
reminded that masks are required for church-goers. Following the constant
recommendation of medical officers of health, vaccines and booster shots are
strongly encouraged!

AMANDA GORMAN, THE YOUNG POET who read her now-famous
poem, “The Hill We Climb”, at the 2021 inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden,
has written another poem to welcome 2022. “New Day’s Lyric” includes this
beautiful excerpt:
                        “This hope is our door, our portal.
                       Even if we never get back to normal,
                       Someday we can venture beyond it,
                   To leave the known and take the first steps.
                     So let us not return to what was normal,
                         But reach toward what is next.”

To hear Amanda Gorman recite her poem, click here.

St John’s Parish - Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
office@stjohnskitchener.ca — oficina@parroquiaguadalupe.ca
           519 745 7855 — 85 Strange St., Kitchener