This week's readings Week of Jan. 13 - 19 Sunday, January 13, 2002 Reading I: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Reading II: Acts 10:34-38 Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 Monday, January 14, 2002 Reading I: 1 Sm 1, 1-8 Gospel: Mk 1, 14-20 Tuesday, January 15, 2002 Reading I: 1 Sm 1, 9-20 Gospel: Mk 1, 21-28 Wednesday, January 16, 2002 Reading I: 1 Sm 3, 1-10. 19-20 Gospel: Mk 1, 29-39 Thursday, January 17, 2002 Reading I: 1 Sm 4, 1-11 Gospel: Mk 1, 40-45 Friday, January 18, 2002 Reading I: 1 Sm 8, 4-7. 10-22 Gospel: Mk 2, 1-12 Saturday, January 19, 2002 Reading I: 1 Sm 9, 1-4. 17-19; 10, 1 Gospel: Mk 2, 13-17 Pope's Prayer Intentions January General Intention A strengthening of united Christian efforts to announce Jesus Christ: That Christians may work better and harder together to announce Jesus Christ, the world's only Savior. January Mission Intention Renewed commitment to evangelize in every aspect of work and life: That the local churches may learn to use every aspect of work and life to bring the gospel to others.

Disciples of Jesus:

Witnesses to God's saving acts

		Word of God  Word of Life  Fr. John G. Stillmank

At the end of his earthly ministry and before he ascended to the Father, Jesus gave to his disciples the mission to preach the Gospel to all nations, teaching them to observe all that he commanded and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The Church knows that Baptism incorporates one into membership in the Body of Christ and washes away original sin, bringing the newly baptized into friendship with God.

When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John, there was no Church, and he certainly didn't have original sin. What gives?

Readings for The Baptism of the Lord (Jan. 13) Isaiah 42:1-4 Psalm 29 Acts 10:34-38 Matthew 3:13-17

In her prayer the Church recognizes that Jesus was baptized by John "in waters made holy by the one who was baptized." John knew that it was he who needed to be baptized by Jesus, and yet Jesus went into the waters of the Jordan "to fulfill all righteousness."

Thus he who is righteousness itself and who has no need of repentance shows us by his example that baptism and conversion of life are marks of those who call themselves disciples of Jesus.

At Jesus' baptism the Father declared Jesus to be his Son, "in whom I am well pleased." So too at our baptism, when our parents and godparents made promises for us, we became pleasing to God, empowered by the Holy Spirit to turn away from sin and follow the teaching of the Gospel.

As we read in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, the chosen one of God is his servant, the one in whom God is well pleased, upon whom God has put his Spirit. As Jesus came out of the Jordan, the Spirit hovered over him as the voice of God from heaven spoke.

Like Jesus, we too celebrate the gift of God's love by our baptism. Unlike Jesus, we fall into sin again and again, needing the gift of the Sacraments to help us on our journey to the Father.

"Like Jesus, we too celebrate the gift of God's love by our baptism. Unlike Jesus, we fall into sin again and again, needing the gift of the Sacraments to help us on our journey to the Father."

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, in which we offer to God our genuine sorrow for our sins and ask for his mercy, forgiveness, and strength, restores our broken relationship to wholeness. We are healed of sin and sent forth with the admonition of Jesus, "Go, and sin no more."

The Eucharist nourishes us, strengthens us, heals us, and gives us the grace of God's most intimate love. All the Sacraments give us God's grace in a special way, to assist us in living up to our baptismal call to be faithful witnesses and disciples of Jesus.

The Acts of the Apostles remind us that Jesus "went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." This is what Jesus continues to do for us through the Church, through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and through the Sacraments, beginning with Baptism.

As his disciples, let our words and deeds show that we strive, through our acceptance of the Gospel and our witness to God's saving acts for us, to be like Jesus in whom God is well pleased.

Fr. John G. Stillmank is Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Madison and pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Verona, and St. William Parish, Paoli.