Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17
At that time, Jesus arrived from Galilee and came to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
But John tried to prevent him, and said, “How is it, you come to me? I should be baptized by you!”
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be like that for now; so that we may fulfill the right order.” John agreed.
As soon as he was baptized, Jesus came up out of the water. All at once, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God come down,
like a dove, and rest upon him. At the same time, a voice from heaven was heard, “This is my Son, the Beloved; he is my Chosen One.”

Gospel: John 3:22-30
After this, Jesus went into the territory of Judea with his disciples. He stayed there with them and baptized.
John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, where water was plentiful; people came to him and were baptized.
This happened before John was put in prison.

Gospel: Luke 5:12-16
One day, in another town, a man came to Jesus covered with leprosy. On seeing Jesus, the man bowed down to the ground,
and said, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched the man and said, “Yes, I want to. Be clean.” In an instant, the leprosy left him.

Gospel: Luke 4:14-22
Jesus acted with the power of the Spirit; and on his return to Galilee, the news about him spread throughout all that territory.
He began teaching in the synagogues of the Jews and everyone praised him.
When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as he usually did.
He stood up to read, and they handed him the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Gospel: Mark 6:45-52
Immediately, Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, toward Bethsaida,
while he himself sent the crowd away. And having sent the people off, he went by himself to the hillside to pray.
When evening came, the boat was far out on the lake, while he was alone on the land.

Gospel: Mark 6:34-44
As Jesus went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.
And he began to teach them many things.
It was now getting late, so his disciples came to him and said, “This is a lonely place and it is now late.
You should send the people away, and let them go to the farms and villages around here, to buy themselves something to eat.”

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Judea, during the days of king Herod, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem.
They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw the rising of his star in the East and have come to honor him.”
When Herod heard this he was greatly disturbed, and with him all Jerusalem. He immediately called a meeting of all high-ranking priests and teachers of the law, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea,” they told him, “for this is what the prophet wrote: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no means the least among the clans of Judah, for from you will come a leader, one who is to shepherd my people Israel.”

Gospel: John 1:35-42
On the following day, John was standing there again, with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and said,
“There is the Lamb of God.”
On hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. He turned and saw them following, and he said to them, “What are you looking for?”
They answered, “Rabbi (which means Master), where are you staying?” Jesus said, “Come and see.”
So they went and saw where he stayed, and spent the rest of that day with him. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard what John had said, and followed Jesus. Early the next morning,
he found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means the Christ), and he brought Simon to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John, but you shall be called “Cephas” (which means Rock).

REFLECTION:
The best way to establish a happy family is spen­ding time together, sharing and listening to one another.
On the one hand, modern gadgets have made this difficult for they take most of our time and interest.
On the other hand, modern technology has facilitated communication among families and friends separated by distance and place.
With many forms of entertainment the society offers, quality time with our fa­mily and community members is neglected.
We are faced with the challenge to prioritize spen­ding time with our love ones and above all with the Lord.
Being with the Lord in solitude and prayer overflows itself to our family and friends, we bring them to the Lord.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020

Gospel: John 1:29-34
The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
It is he of whom I said: A man comes after me, who is already ahead of me, for he was before me. I myself did not know him,
but I came baptizing to prepare for him, so that he might be revealed in Israel.”
And John also gave this testimony, “I saw the Spirit coming down on him, like a dove from heaven, and resting on him.
I myself did not know him, but God, who sent me to baptize, told me, ‘You will see the Spirit coming down,
and resting on the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ Yes, I have seen! And I declare that this is the Chosen One of God!”

REFLECTION:
“To see is to believe” is often said by people who want proofs to confirm a fact or event.
John the Baptist perceives Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
His intimacy with God made him recognize Jesus as the “chosen one of God.”
As children of God we are called to an intimate relationship with the Lord.
Receiving the Lord at holy communion is an intimate moment with Him.
Personal and common prayers are means to deepen our intimacy with the Lord.
This intimacy is best expressed in good dealings with my neighbors,
especially with the needy and people I dislike.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020

Gospel: John 1:19-28
This was the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him, Who are you?” John recognized the truth, and did not deny it.
He said, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?”
And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord!”
Those who had been sent were Pharisees; and they put a further question to John, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah,
or the Prophet?” John answered, “I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me,
I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.” This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

REFLECTION:
The way John the Baptist responds to the Jews who asked for his identity is a good example on how to relate with one another.
His answers are honest and direct to the point. We can see in John the Baptist what it is to be Jesus’ witness, that is, to know oneself,
and to lead people to Jesus. He knows that he is not the Messiah nor the Prophet.
By virtue of our baptism, we have become God’s children and we have also the responsibility to give witness to God’s saving love through our words and deeds.
This is an urgent task in our present world wherein many people are drawn more to worldly concerns, forgetting the gospel values.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2020