The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Reading 1
Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10Responsorial Psalm
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Acts 10:34-38Reading 2
Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered
in the house of Cornelius, saying:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him.
You know the word that he sent to the Israelites
as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea,
beginning in Galilee after the baptism
that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.
He went about doing good
and healing all those oppressed by the devil,
for God was with him.”
Mt 3:13-17Gospel
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Catholic Fundamentalism Interpretation:
Thus says The Programmer (through me to the ages): I am downloading The Entire Creation Program, in the Person of Jesus Christ. I am pleased with My chosen One. I have downloaded My Spirit upon Him. He will bring a higher truth to the nations, not by bossing people around or hurting those who are not what they could be, until He brings The New Download to people on the earth. Those close enough to receiving the New Download, (who are chosen, who are on the edge of heaven), will wait for His Downloads to them.
I, The Programmer of Programmers, have brought forth The Living Program in Human Form, and downloaded Him as a contract of salvation with the people (who are chosen?), letting them in every nation who can see, see. He will bring out those souls confined in lesser programs, even the very worst of enslaving programs.
The Loving Programmer will bless His people with His New Download that reconciles their programs with His. This reconciliation is, truly, "peace".
This new download is so overwhelming that He thunders and all who understand say "Glory!"
His Program, The New Download, will last forever, and His people, (His chosen ones) will be reconciled with Him forever.
Peter, leader of the disciples, first of Popes, decreed: "The truth is that The Loving Programmer loves everyone equally who fears and obeys Him. They are all acceptable to Him.
You know The New Download that The Loving Programmer sent to the Israelites as He proclaimed reconciliation (peace) between Him and their individual programs through His Program, Who is the Lord of all.
(You know) what’s been happening all over Judea, starting in Galilee after the baptism that John used to get us ready for The Program to that The Loving Programmer Downloaded among us along with The Holy Wireless Connector and the power to provide Sacramental Access to Him.
He went about doing good and restoring the programs of those who’d been altered by the virus because The Programmer was with Him."
Jesus came from Galilee to John, at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.
John knew The Program, Jesus, was far more powerful than he, "I need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?" Jesus replied, "We have to follow The Operating Instructions just as The Programmer desires."
Both Jesus and John obeyed.
After Jesus was baptized, He came up from the water and the heavens were opened for Him. He saw the Holy Wireless Connector, descending like a dove and coming upon Him.
And The Loving Programmer’s voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Program in human form, My Son, with Whom I am well pleased."
