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Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Holy Week and Easter) 

Gospel acclamation

Philippians 2:8–9

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
Christ became obedient for us even to death,
dying on the cross.
Therefore God raised him on high
and gave him a name above all other names.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Procession of the gifts/offertory 

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Lent) 

Gospel acclamation

John 11:25, 26

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me will not die for ever.
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Procession of the gifts/offertory 

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Lent) 

Gospel acclamation

John 8:12

Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!

Procession of the gifts/offertory 

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Lent) 

Gospel acclamation

cf John 4:42. 15

Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!
Lord, you are truly the Saviour of the world;
give me living water, that I may never thirst again.
Glory to you, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!

Procession of the gifts/offertory 

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Lent) 

Gospel acclamation

Matthew 17:5

Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
From the shining cloud the Father’s voice is heard:
this is my beloved Son, hear him.
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Procession of the gifts/offertory 

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Lent) 

Gospel acclamation

Matthew 4:4

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
No one lives on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Procession of the gifts/offertory 

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Lent) 

Gospel acclamation (see CWBII 54–61)

cf. Psalm 94:8

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!

Distribution of ashes

Procession of the gifts/offertory

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Entrance

Responsorial psalm (see also music overview for Ordinary Time) 

Gospel acclamation

cf. Matthew 11:25

Alleluia, Alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the kingdom.
Alleluia!

Procession of the gifts/offertory 

Communion

Thanksgiving hymn/song/canticle (optional, sung by all)

Sending forth

Gospel

Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company Inc.

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.’ At this, John gave in to him.

As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’

(Matthew 3:13–17) 

Did you know?

Points of interest and Catholic lore 

• The Jordan River runs the length of Israel, from north of the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea in the south, and is the lifeblood of the land.

• The exact site of the baptism of Jesus by John is unknown, but the traditional site is at Al-Maghtas, about 10.5 kilometres north of the point where the river enters the Dead Sea.

• The word baptism comes from a Greek word meaning ‘to plunge’.

• The first Christians were baptised by being plunged into running streams or rivers, following the practice of John. Later, large fonts were built in churches, and baptism of the faithful, usually adults, was by full immersion.

Exploring the Word 

This text introduces Jesus in the first public moment of his adult life. It is significant that the public mission of Jesus begins with his baptism. He has made decisions about his future action, which begins with a long and arduous journey spanning the length of Israel from Galilee to the deep south. This is not a random act. Jesus makes that journey with a single purpose: ‘to be baptised by John’. In light of Matthew’s presentation of Jesus as the fulfillment and perfection of all that is good in Israel, the conversation between these two figures is fascinating. The Baptist recognises Jesus’ greater role in God’s plan. He has played the part of the Old Testament prophet in preparing the way. Now that the main player has appeared on the stage, is it not fitting that the Baptist bows out of the action? But Jesus is aware of a bigger picture and insists that things remain as they are ‘for the time being’ so that the demands of righteousness can be satisfied. Both Jesus and John show an openness to accept God’s plan, and in reward, God himself enters the story with words of affirmation and love for the Chosen One. Heaven and earth have met in the person of Jesus.

• Jesus’ mission grew out of a profound sense of being loved and chosen by God. You too have been chosen. What might your mission be?

• Look at the first reading from Isaiah. What insight does this provide in understanding your mission?

Making connections 

Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer 

• How strong is your own sense of being loved and favoured by God?

• What feelings are you experiencing as your own baptism or reception approaches?

• Have you ever had an experience of being chosen, singled out for a special role or particular responsibility? How did you feel? Were you able to carry out the task? What challenges did you face? Share your recollections with others.

• Encourage catechumens, along with their sponsors, to visit the baptismal font in the church at some point this week. It may be a good opportunity to chat informally about how the journey is progressing.

• Spend some time each day in quiet contemplation of what the ‘voice from heaven’ is saying to you and what you must do to be pleasing to God. 

• Use these lines from today’s collect often this week:

Almighty ever-living God who, when Christ had been baptised in the River Jordan and as 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 pleasing to you.

Sharing the Tradition 

A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ 

The baptism of Jesus brings to mind the baptism that all Christians undergo. Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments of the Church. A sacrament is a visible sign of a hidden reality (CCC, §774).

• Explore what that means. What hidden reality does baptism call to mind?

A sacrament is a sign through which God communicates love, life and forgiveness to us. ‘Immersion in water symbolises not only death and purification, but also regeneration and renewal. Thus the two principal effects (of baptism) are purification from sins and new birth in the Holy Spirit’ (CCC, §1262).

• Explore together the meaning of these two aspects of baptism.

• Examine the Rite of Baptism for Infants with special emphasis on the prayers and anointing that form part of the rite. How are forgiveness of sin and new birth reflected in
the rite?

Symbols and images

Like Jesus, every Christian enters the waters of baptism, or have them poured over them. The symbolism, especially apparent in the practice of full immersion, is that of the tomb. The person enters into the depths and darkness of the tomb and rises to a new life in Christ, symbolised by the white garment worn at baptism. This symbolism also recalls our physical birth from the waters of the womb. In baptism, we are reborn into the life of faith.

Living the Word 

Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment 

• If it is possible, invite the catechumens to attend an infant baptism in your community.

• Gathering at the baptismal font in the church could be a suitable focus, or use a large earthen bowl filled with water. You could speak of the symbolism of water. Today would be a suitable occasion to use a rite of anointing (RCIA, §§98–102). You could sing ‘Come to the water’ (GA 403) or ‘God has chosen me’ (GA 497). Conclude with the blessing in the RCIA
at §97B.

Gospel

Jerusalem Bible © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company Inc.

After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

I called my son out of Egypt.

After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled:

‘He will be called a Nazarene.’

(Matthew 2:13–15,19–23) 

Did you know? 

Points of interest and Catholic lore 

• Matthew often presents Jesus as the new Moses. There are many parallels in this text: a threat of death at birth, an escape, being called out of Egypt and being under the special protection of God.

• After the death of Herod the Great, his kingdom was divided between three of his sons: Archelaus, Herod Antipas (who ruled Galilee and was the Herod mentioned at Jesus’ death) and Philip. All these men ruled only as regents under Rome, which held the real power.

• In Matthew’s Gospel, Mary and Joseph live in Bethlehem rather than at Nazareth in Galilee. Bethlehem is in Judaea, not far from Jerusalem, and thus comes under the rule of Archelaus.

• Archelaus proved to be an inept ruler and was stripped of his power by Rome. Judaea was instead placed under direct Roman rule through a Roman governor. Pontius Pilate was such a governor.

Exploring the Word 

Again we see a communication from God, through a dream, and an angel leading Joseph into risky and dangerous behaviour. Such a journey in the first century—across the desert of Sinai—would have been a long and arduous trek. Again, Joseph’s response to God’s command is made with absolute trust and confidence. The parallels with the story of Moses are obvious.

• Read the opening three chapters of Exodus and trace the parallels.

It was well established in the early church and from contemporary Roman sources that Jesus was known as a Nazarene, so Matthew uses the device of Archelaus, a son of Herod the Great and an inept and evil ruler, to explain how the Holy Family came to live in Nazareth. The protection Joseph offers to his fledgling family is paralleled with the protection God offers to this child who is God’s Son. Mary and Joseph provide a positive model for all parents who selflessly risk all for their child.

• How is love, concern and protection expressed in your family?

• What are some of the sacrifices that you make as a parent or that have been made for you by your parents?

Making connections 

Opportunities for group discussion and personal prayer 

• Are there situations or people in your life that it is more sensible to escape from than to confront?

• What in your life poses the biggest threat to your faith journey?

• How far are you willing to go to safeguard your faith?

• In what ways has the family within which you grew to maturity influenced the sort of person you have become? What, ultimately, would you like to think you had contributed to your own family? Share your reflections.

• Make special times for family this week. Contemplate the richness of family life.

• At this time in human history, when so many people find themselves forced to flee their homes, pray this week for all who are refugees:

God of all, you called your Son out of Egypt.
Watch over all who are fleeing death or persecution.
Open our hearts to their plight.
May we give the protection that your Son received.

Sharing the tradition 

A closer look at the Scripture of the day, to see how it makes more explicit God’s word to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ 

The feast of the Holy Family is a relatively new one in the Church’s calendar. It was instituted in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV to counter anti-family policies and trends in modern society. But the tradition of honouring Mary and Joseph as the earthly family of Jesus has a much longer history. While this feast provides us with an opportunity to reflect on family life and its importance for our growth and maturity, that is not its only strength. Coming as it does within the Christmas cycle, it is a time to continue reflection on the reality of God’s incarnation in the human story. Jesus was born into a human family whose members are models of steadfast and committed service to God. We are not only members of our human family but also members of God’s family, and this brings responsibilities with it.

• What responsibilities come with membership of a
human family?

• What responsibilities come with membership of
God’s family?

Symbols and images 

Just as Moses was called out of Egypt to bring life to the people, so also does Jesus bring life to all those who accept him. Just as the great saving event of Passover delivered the Hebrews from slavery, so too does the great Passover of Jesus’ sacrifice deliver all believers from slavery to sin and death.

Living the Word 

Practical ideas for group leaders to employ in connecting Scripture and daily life, with suggestions for music and environment 

• In what ways does your community celebrate families or offer opportunities for families to grow in faith together?

• You could invite participants to bring photographs of their families as a focus for prayer. Pray for you own family and especially for families who are struggling with conflict. A suitable song might be ‘This is my will’ (GA 465). Conclude with the prayer of exorcism in RCIA at §94F.

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