Your Baptismal Authority:
The Baptism of the Lord 2026
January 11, 2026
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Isaiah 42:1-4; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17
Having made many trips to the Jordan River when I lived in the Kingdom of Jordan, the place where Jesus was Baptized is embedded into my memory. The location of the baptismal site is just north of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, by a couple miles. Jerusalem is up to the West and Moab up to the East, a river that joins two distinct nations. The land east of the Jordan is fertile, producing many fruits and vegetables. The walk to the river is hot and dry. The scent of Midnight Jasmine permeates the air, while colorful Bougainvillaea, Fushias, hibiscus, and Almond Flowers accentuate the landscape where the desert meets a fertile farmland. One can easily see why John the Baptist and his community inhabited the land. The river was a source of life and renewal. A new life could begin by crossing over the Jordan and having one’s sins and diseases washed away.
Baptism is the source of Christian life and renewal. The Church today is rediscovering that baptism is the source and authority for ministry, not ordination, but baptism. This realization means that you, the person in the pews, are empowered to take greater responsibility for service and ministry, and that you do not have to ask for permission because authority is given to you by baptism. Church is not just something that happen on Sundays. Church is best when we care pastorally for local needs. Ministry is most fulfilling when we take care of those in greatest needs. Sometimes, ministry is simply within the family, caring for one with special needs, educating and instilling virtues, being patient with someone who is learning, letting someone know that she or he is accepted and belongs. You do this so well.
This past week, the Cardinals gathered in Rome to discuss collegiality and to listen to one another so they may be in greater service to the local church. The goal of this gathering is to help bishops get along better and to work as one body instead of as a common-interest power bloc. They are invited to listen meaningfully to each other and to speak for the common good, rather than for their personal objectives. They are to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They are to renew their promises as Cardinals to care for the souls entrusted to them. The goals of their gathering are to advise the Pope, to show the world that they are unified in ministry, to dialogue and to learn from one another, and to look at the most meaningful way for the People of God to come together for worship. The Cardinals are learning what their baptismal call means in this current age. They are learning how best to take care of you.
Before the 2nd Vatican Council, Catholics were discouraged from reading the Bible because that was what Protestants did. Today, Catholic laity, you, are not only reading great quantities of spirituality and religion books, but you are writing them. You are leading book groups and faith-based discussions and are making podcasts on the internet. Many of you have taken ownership of their self-education to fill in the gaps of study that you do not get through homilies and parish missions. People want real answers to the real questions of the day, and you will be creative in finding ways to satisfy yourselves. We are in an age where people are asking for spiritual direction, to have regular spiritual conversations, and many people have responded to the call to be spiritual directors because they realize pastoral leadership is needed. Many are seeing the vacuum in their lives and realizing that we need more and are willing to step up to their responsibility.
It is quite encouraging that you are responding to your baptismal call and doing what is good and right for the souls around you and for yourself. You are becoming pastoral leaders because you feel called to greater service, to lead enhanced prayer programs, and to have a maturing faith. I hope that you are experiencing the same affirmation that Jesus of Nazareth received when he rose from the Jordan River, saw the promise of a new day, and heard the voice, “You are my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” From this day forward, may you step forth with courage as you step onward and upward. Your baptism and your call to respond to the needs of the time gives you full authority.
Scripture for Daily Mass
Monday: (1 Samuel 1) This went on year after year; each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the LORD, Peninnah would approach her, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat. Her husband Elkanah used to ask her: “Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”
Tuesday: (1 Samuel 1) Hannah rose after a meal at Shiloh and presented herself before the LORD; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the LORD’s temple. In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously, and she made a vow.
Wednesday: (1 Samuel 3) One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”
Thursday: (1 Samuel 4) The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel.
After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield. When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said “Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines?
Friday (1 Samuel 8) All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, “Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us.”
Saturday (1 Samuel 9) He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.
Gospel:
Monday: (Mark 1) After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
Tuesday: (Mark 1) Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
Wednesday (Mark 1) On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Thursday (Mark 1) A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Friday (Mark 2) When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.
Saturday (Mark 2) Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post.
Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
Saints of the Week
January 13: The Baptism of the Lord is recounted in Mark’s Gospel where the baptism of water is to be replaced by a baptism of fire. God confirms the person of Jesus when he rises from the water and a dove alights on his head. God is well pleased.
January 14: Hilary, bishop and doctor (315-367), was born in Gaul and received the faith as an adult. He was made bishop of Poitiers and defended the church against the Arian heresy. He was exiled to the Eastern Church where his orthodox rigidity made him too much to handle so the emperor accepted him back.
January 17: Anthony, Abbot (251-356), was a wealthy Egyptian who gave away his inheritance to become a hermit. Many people sought him out for his holiness and asceticism. After many years in solitude, he formed the first Christian monastic community. Since he was revered, he went to Alexandria to encourage the persecuted Christians. He met Athanasius and helped him fight Arianism.
This Week in Jesuit History
- January 11, 1573. At Milan, St Charles Borromeo founded a college (the Brera) and placed it under the care of the Society.
- January 12, 1544. Xavier wrote a long letter on his apostolic labors, saying he wished to visit all the universities of Europe in search of laborers for our Lord's vineyard. The letter was widely circulated and very influential.
- January 13, 1547. At the Council of Trent, Fr. James Laynez, as a papal theologian, defended the Catholic doctrine on the sacraments in a learned three-hour discourse.
- January 14, 1989. The death of John Ford SJ, moral theologian and teacher at Weston College and Boston College. He served on the papal commission on birth control.
- January 15, 1955. The death of Daniel Lord SJ, popular writer, national director of the Sodality, founder of the Summer School of Catholic Action, and editor of The Queen's Work.
- January 16, 1656. At Meliapore, the death of Fr. Robert de Nobili, nephew of Cardinal Bellarmine. Sent to the Madura mission, he learned to speak three languages and for 45 years labored among the high caste Brahmins.
- January 17, 1890. Benedict Sestini died. He was an astronomer, editor, architect, mathematician, and teacher at Woodstock College.
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