Baptism of the Lord Year of Vocation January 2009 Introduction Today as we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we call to mind the common vocation that we all share through baptism, expressed through witness, love and service. The Year of Vocation gives us all a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the beauty and meaning of our Christian calling. Whatever we do, wherever we are whether we are single or married, priest or religious, young or older, as women and men, we are all called to grow more deeply into our following of Jesus Christ. In this year as we celebrate Year of Vocation, we give thanks for those who awaken in us a sense of God s calling... and for those who respond with generosity to God, as single people, as married people, as religious, as priests... Four candles of equal size but of different colours are carried to the sanctuary to reflect the equal dignity of each vocation, and the complimentarity of gifts. Choose strong vibrant colours and best to keep away from Advent colours. Possible Hymns: Into the family of God [Canaimis, p42] Let all who are baptised [Canaimis, p46] Penitential Rite Blessing of Water: (no sprinkling) Priest: Dear friends, this water will be used to remind us of our baptism. Let us ask God to bless it and to keep us faithful to the Spirit he has given us. Lord God almighty, creator of all life, of body and soul we ask you to bless + this water; as we use it in faith,
forgive our sins and save us from all illness and the power of evil. Lord in your mercy, give us living water, always springing up as a fountain of salvation; free us, body and soul from every danger, and admit us into your presence in purity of heart. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Priest continues with Gloria and Opening Prayer Liturgy of the Word Readings of the Day First Reading Isaiah 55:1-11 Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12:2-6 Second Reading 1 John 5:1-9 Gospel Mark 1:7-11 Homily Notes Witness Whether we are single or married, young or old, consecrated or ordained we are all called to witness to the love that God has showered on us. Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans states this plainly: And how can they put their trust in Him if they have not heard of Him? And how can they hear of Him unless someone tells them? And how can someone tell them if he is not sent?...so then, faith comes to us by hearing the Good News. And the Good News comes by someone preaching it. (Romans 10:14-15, 17). Love We learn to love by being loved. We can give because we have first received. What is true at a human level is even more true at the spiritual level. God loves us unconditionally. We can love because we have been loved first by God and then by significant others in our lives. From this experience of love we are asked to be lovers. The vocation to love is one of the non negotiables of life. It is what we were created for! Love, wherever it is found, speaks of God. In such moments God is tangibly alive among his people. If we have eyes to see he becomes Emmanuel, God with us. Usually this begins with our parents, grandparents, community and friends. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit live
within an eternal love relationship that reaches out to each one of us. Life is God s loving gift. He loves us into being and he waits for a free response. The principal actor in this drama is the Holy Spirit. He brings the gift of love to each one. The vocation of each human being is to be an agent of love. We have the awesome privilege of being instruments of God s love to others. Service For the Christian, service too is paramount, but it is not a job or career, rather it is the heart of what being a Christian is all about. In the liturgy for Holy Thursday, Jesus Christ highlighted the centrality of service when he said: Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me teacher and master, and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (John 13:13-15) We show our love for God by caring for others. Whatever spiritual gifts we have, whatever natural abilities we have, whatever experiences we have, let us use them to help other people. Profession of Faith: Instead of the Creed have a renewal of Baptismal Promises followed by sprinkling of the congregation. And so: Dear friends, through the paschal mystery we have been buried with Christ in baptism, so that we may rise with him to a new life. Now let us renew the promises we made in baptism when we rejected Satan and his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in the Holy Catholic Church. Do you reject Satan? I do. And all his works? I do. And all his empty promises? I do. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and earth? I do. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead,
and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?I do. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting? I do. 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 for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer of the Faithful These intercessions allow each one to make their own silent prayer so leave a good pause between the first part, when you state the intention and the second part, when you invite others to add their response. Priest: As the Lord is our strength and our Saviour, we bring our prayers with confidence to Him. Reader: For all the baptised, that they may live out their baptismal commitment with sincerity of heart. Lord hear us. Reader: For all who are called to serve as leaders of Church and State..Lord hear us Reader: For all who are discerning their calling in life...lord hear us Reader: For all married people...and those preparing for marriage...lord hear us Reader: For all single people...lord hear us Reader: For all religious and priests...and for those training to be priests and religious...lord hear us Priest: O God, our strength, we praise you for your mighty deeds and ask your help according to our needs. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen. Communion Reflection/Newsletter Reflection [This reflection could be included in your parish newsletter] Lord Jesus You said to your disciples: The harvest indeed is great but the labourers are few. We ask that we may know and follow the vocation to which you have called us. We pray for those called to serve: those whom you have called, those you are calling now, and those you will call in the future. May each of us be open and responsive to the call of serving your people. Amen. Copies of this Year of Vocation prayer could be available for people in the parish. Some of the material for this liturgy has been adapted from www.yearofvocation.ie