2022-23 January #2: The Baptism of the Lord

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The Baptism of the Lord

The feast of the Baptism of our Lord is a moveable feast day that is dependent on the Epiphany, the visitation of the Magi.  The Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on January 6^th but in the Catholic dioceses of the United States this feast has been moved to the Sunday after January 6th.  The Baptism of Our Lord is celebrated on the Sunday after the Epiphany.  Since both the Solemnity of the Epiphany and the feast of the Baptism of Jesus would fall on the 8^th this year, the feast of Jesus’ Baptism is moved to the Monday after (Jan. 9th).  On this feast day, we commemorate Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.

You can read more about the Baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:13-17.

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Jesus’ Baptism

Go over the lesson in the booklet and then use these questions as a review with your littles.

Who Baptized Jesus?

• St. John the Baptist
  • What do you know about St. John the Baptist?
    • He wore camel’s hair and leather belt (Matt 3:4)
    • He ate locusts and wild honey
    • He baptized people
    • He is Jesus’ cousin
    • He is older than Jesus
    • He is the son of Elizabeth and Zachariah

Where was Jesus Baptized?

• In the Jordan River
  • You could also ask: Was he baptized in a river or in a church?
• (After showing on a map) The Jordan River is between 2 seas, can you name one?
  • The Sea of Galilee
  • The Dead Sea
• What are the 2 things that are the same about being baptized in the Jordan River and in the church?
• What is different?

What Did People See When Jesus was Baptized?

• The Holy Spirit, as a dove, flying down to Jesus
  • Who is the Holy Spirit?
    • God; the 3^rd person of the Holy Trinity
  • Is the Holy Spirit present at every baptism?
    • Yes (CCC 1215)

What Did People Hear When Jesus was Baptized?

• They heard God say, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt 3:17.
• Was this the beginning or end of Jesus’ teaching?
  • (Beginning) So, God was “well pleased” with Jesus even before He started working?
  • Do you think God would think the same thing about you?
    • Do you think that you have to do something in order for God to love you?
    • Does He love you no matter what you do?

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What Happens When You Are Baptized?

• You become a member of God’s family
  • (CCC 1213)
• You become a brother or sister to Jesus
  • (CCC 1213)
• Your heart is open to all of God’s gifts
  • (CCC 1216)

Talk with your littles about:  

• Baptism takes away all sin.  Jesus didn’t have any sins.  Why do you think Jesus wanted to be baptized?
  • To show us how important it is to be baptized
  • This marked the start of His public life of teaching
  • To show that He is a part of God’s family too

St. John the Baptist

Miraculous Birth

Saint John the Baptist was born a few months before Jesus, in the late first century BC somewhere in Judea. We celebrate his nativity or birth in the Catholic church on June 24^th, 6 months before Christmas.  His birth announcement was an unexpected answer to many prayers to his elderly parents, Elizabeth, and Zachariah. Zachariah was a priest, and twice a year for a week at a time he went down to Jerusalem to serve in the temple. One day when he went to the holy place alone, he was visited by archangel Gabriel standing by the altar. The angel gave him the good news that he would have a son and that he was to name him John. Zachariah did not believe this was possible due to the old age of him and his wife and for his lack of faith he was unable to speak until the birth of John.

The Annunciation

Six months went by, and the same angel appeared to Mary and asked her if she would be the Mother of God. Then he told her Elizabeth’s secret and explained as he did to Zachariah that although Elizabeth was very old, it would come to pass, “for nothing shall be impossible with God.” Lk 1:37

The Visitation

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Lk 1:39-45

Life as a Prophet

As John grew, he went into the desert to pray, fast, and prepare to preach to people about the coming of Christ.  The earlier prophets announced that the Messiah was coming, but John announced that the Messiah was here, and when Jesus did appear, John pointed to Him and identified Him as such, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:29,36).  We hear this every time we go to mass when we see Jesus in the Eucharist.

Imprisonment and Death

Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee under the Roman Empire, imprisoned John the Baptist because he had publicly told Herod that divorcing his first wife and marrying his sister-in-law was wrong.

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.  But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” Then the king regretted what he had said, but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. So, John was beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. Matt 14:5-12

John the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments.  Jesus said of him, “there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” (Matt 11:11)

(source)

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3 Things Found at Every Baptism: Water, Candle, White Garment

Water

• This is a symbol of dying and rising to new life with Christ through the pouring of the water

Candle

• When a candle is presented and received, this is a symbol of receiving the light of Christ, the light of the world.

White Garment

• Putting on the white garment is a symbol of putting on Christ.

Another ritual that can be seen at baptism is the sign of the cross.  When this is done, it claims the recipient a person for Christ.

The effect of baptism is the purification from all sin.

Help your littles sound out the words to find the missing letters.  To further the lesson, ask them to tell you the beginning sound of each word.