EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (# 7)
A Weekly Pastoral Tool for the YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
Baptism of the Lord, Year A
Jan. 9-15, 2005
“Jesus Was Baptized”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or a song with a baptismal theme may be sung.
WORDS OF ST. GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS
(From his sermon on “The Baptism of Christ”)
Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us go down with him, rise with him … Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him … Today let us do honor to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and revelation exist. He wants you to be a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven.
SILENT ADORATION AND PRAYER
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Father, all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
You celebrated your new gift of baptism
by signs and wonders at the Jordan.
Your voice was heard from heaven
to awaken faith in the presence among us
of the Word made man.
Your Spirit was seen as a dove,
revealing Jesus as your servant,
and anointing him with joy as the Christ,
sent to bring to the poor
the good news of salvation.
In our unending joy we echo on earth
the song of the angels in heaven
as they praise your glory for ever:
Assembly: Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
GOSPEL READING: Mt 3:13-17
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [# 7]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any suitable hymn of praise or a song with a baptismal theme may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: The feast of the Lord’s baptism contains tremendous significance and profound riches for the community of believers today. Let us delve into the depths of our hearts and see how fully immersed we are in the saving event of Christ’s baptism.
1. What does it mean personally to us that the Lord’s baptism is an “epiphany”? Do we perceive this character of “epiphany” in the baptismal event of Jesus as a loving act of God?
2. How does the ministerial aspect of Jesus’ baptism affect us? How does the vocation and mission of the Servant-Son challenge us?
3. Do we fully surrender to the paschal implication of our Christian baptism? In our daily lives, are we ready to die and rise with Jesus Christ, whose baptism in the waters of the Jordan signifies his blood bath on Mount Calvary and his resurrection to Easter glory?
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES (All stand.)
Leader: Brothers and sisters, just as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, so we, too, must walk in newness of life, knowing well that our “old man” was crucified with Christ, so that we would no longer be slaves of sin. Let us consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God, in our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence let us renew the promises of holy baptism, with which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and the world that is the enemy of God, and we promised to serve God faithfully in the holy Catholic Church. Therefore: Do you reject Satan?
Assembly: I do.
Leader: And all his works?
Assembly: I do.
Leader: And all his empty promises?
Assembly: I do.
Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?
Assembly: I do.
Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
Assembly: I do.
Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
Assembly: I do.
Leader: And now let us all pray together as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us to pray:
Assembly: OUR FATHER …
Leader: God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit,
and forgiven all our sins.
May he also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ
forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
SONG: Any suitable song may be sung.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
PERSONAL PRAYER
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Rosary’s Mysteries of Light may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
(From the Liturgy of the Hours, Feast of Baptism)
Leader: Our Redeemer desired to be baptized in the Jordan by John; let us make our petition to him:
(R.) LORD, SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT UPON US.
1. Christ, Servant of God, the Father acknowledged you as his own Son with whom he was pleased: send forth your Spirit upon us. (R.)
2. Christ, Chosen One of God, you did not break the crushed reed or extinguished the wavering flame: have mercy on all who are seeking you in good faith. (R.)
3. Christ, Son of God, the Father called you to be a light to the nations in the new covenant: open the eyes of the blind by the waters of baptism. (R.)
4. Christ, Savior of mankind, the Father anointed you with the Holy Spirit for the ministry of salvation: lead all mankind to see you and to believe in you, that they may have eternal life. (R.)
5. Christ, our hope, you lead those in darkness to the light of salvation: receive our departed brothers and sisters into your kingdom. (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father,
grant to us your faithful
to always hear your Son with faith
so that we who share in the sonship of Christ
may follow in his path of service to man,
and reflect the glory of his kingdom
even to the ends of the earth,
for he is Lord forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song with a baptismal theme may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US