A Christmas Moment - Sunday January 11th 2026

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  Amen    Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the Oblate Family    Today’s Gospel is from Matthew Chapter 3, verses 13-17   ‘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.’    In this passage, Jesus approaches John the Baptist to be baptised in the Jordan River. This act is profound, as John initially hesitates, recognizing Jesus' superiority and expressing his unworthiness to baptise Him. However, Jesus insists on being baptised "to fulfil all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). This moment marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and serves as a powerful example of humility and obedience to God's will.    Heavenly Father,  We thank You for this precious life and the gift of new beginnings.  May Your love surround them, Your Spirit guide them, and Your grace sustain them always.  In Jesus’ name,   Amen.    In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit  Amen    Thank you for joining us today.