Readings and meditation on the Word of God on Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord, January 11th, 2026

Delivered by Dwi Setyo, Celine, Michelle and Stella from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Isaiah 42: 1-4.6-7; Rs psalm 29: 1a.2.3ac-4.3b.9b-10; Acts of the Apostles 10: 34-38; Matthew 3: 13-17.CHRISTMAS HAS PASSEDAND A NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN The title for ourmeditation on this Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord is: Christmas has Passed anda New Life has Begun. We should say one more time "Merry Christmas"to each other with a joyful celebration in our faces and hearts. We wish togive a special sign for the last day of this Christmas season. The first sign isobviously the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which we celebrate every year toconclude a happy and joyful Christmas season. The baptism of Jesusby John the Baptist as proclaimed in the Gospel of Matthew, marks the nextstage in Jesus' life on earth, namely entering public life. He himself askedJohn that He had to be baptized in order to fulfill what God willed of Him.Jesus Christ was soon to come and unite himself with the world and the lives ofall people, as he salts and saves all. Jesus’ experience ofbaptism is the starting point for the baptism of all His followers. Thedifference between John the Baptist's baptism of the Jews and of Jesus Christis very clear. The Jews, as sinners and have not yet received the Messiah, mustbe converted through the baptism of John, so that they could receive the LordJesus Christ. Whereas in Jesus Christ is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. At themoment of baptism in the Jordan, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus Christ. We take part in thebaptism of Jesus Christ, which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Everyfollower of Christ receives the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and fills him or herwhen he or she receives baptism. From the time of baptism he or she begins anew life. He or she is born the second time, namely the birth in faith and inthe Holy Spirit. While baptism for repentance by John the Baptist still servesus in the strengthening our faith, namely through the ministry ofreconciliation and repentance in the Church that we frequently do. Just like everyChristian baptism that opens the way for a new life as followers of Christ, wewho end the Christmas season and celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, will begin arenewed life outside the Christmas season or ordinary moments of life. Whatkind of a renewed life after Christmas and the feast of the baptism of theLord? According to the prophet Isaiah in the first reading, we need to reaffirmour commitment as a sign of God's covenant for the salvation of the world. Wemust be witnesses of Christ's resurrection and salvation for others. We need to be morecredible ourselves as witnesses of Christ by going around doing good whereverand whenever we are. This is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that wemust continue. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... Almighty God, we pray that this Sunday celebration may renew us in the waywe live out our Christian faith. Our Father who art in heaven ... In the name ofthe Father ...