Sunday, January 13, 2008

Baptism of the Lord

A CORRELATION OF THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Isaiah 42: 1-4; 6-7/Acts 10: 34-38/Matthew 3: 13-17

It is not hard to understand why Christians through the centuries have recognized in Matthew’s account of the baptism of Christ a revelation of the trinitarian nature of God. The reference to the Son implies a Father. The Spirit is the bond that unites them.

The trinitarian dimension of God’s involvement with us in Christ is also affirmed in the second reading. Salvation begins with the Holy Spirit. In the light of the whole of Jesus’ life and mission and especially of his death and resurrection, he was recognized by the apostles and the first believers as “Lord of all.” As human as he is, he belongs to the world of God.

Salvation comes from God in Jesus Christ and through the power of God’s Spirit. Recognition of this led Christians to realize that the only adequate way for them to profess faith in God was to confess him as a mystery of Father, Son and Spirit. In that three fold name we are baptized and in being baptized are associated with the saving reality of the baptism of Jesus.

The highpoint of the event is the proclaimation: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” The phrase is rich in biblical references to Isaac, the son Abraham was asked to sacrifice and in refernce to the kingly heir of David. Today’s liturgy emphasizes a third reference, this one to the servant of God evoked in the latter part of the book of Isaiah. The first of these consitutes today’s first reading. Its presence in the liturgy today suggests that it has something to say to us about Jesus’ life and mission.

In Isaiah the servant is sometimes the people of Israel and sometimes an individual. In our reading the Lord announces that he delights in his servant and that he will send his Spirit upon him. The servant has a mission. It is to bring justice to the world, to be an instrument of God’s saving activity, to be for all peoples a light and a revelation of God’s will.

The reference to the Spirit in all three readings invites us to reflect on the Spirit’s role in the ministry of Jesus. The second reading contains the first part of a sermon of Peter in which he proclaims the gospel to a Gentile family. He says that, although God sent his message of peace first to Israel, it is mean for all peoples.

Althought Jesus is the Word incarnate, truly God and truly human, his coming among us is inseparable from the work of the Spirit. The creed affirms that he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Today’s readings insist that his life and ministry were what they were because of the continuing presence of the Spirit in him. *

* Excerpt from Preparing for Worship 1994 by Daniel Donovan published by the Paulist Press

Jazz on a Winter Afternoon

January 13th, 20th, 27th, February 3rd, 2008

Architecture, paintings, sculptures, music, literature and plays “help us understand through the language of beauty and symbols the profound harmony that exists between faith and art, between human creativity and the work of God, author of every authentic beauty”—Pope John Paul II.

Pax Christi Metro New York invites you to “Jazz on a Winter Afternoon: Jazz Classics” on Sunday, February 3rd, at 2:00 PM in St. Joseph’s. This jazz concert features Patrick Poladian, renowned jazz pianist, accompanied by bass, guitar, and a vocalist. Tickets are available from PCMNY for $25. Call 212-420-0250 or e-mail .

The Roman Forum Lectures in Church History

2008 Program

“Binding the Rhinoceros”

Medieval Catholic Reform and the Taming of Nature

(1025-1153)

Lecturer: John Rao, D.Phil., Oxford

Associate Professor of History, St. John’s University

January 20: From Malitia to Militia Christi

February 3: Islam, the Turks and the Plight of the East

February 17: First Crusade

March 2: The Crusading States, Byzantium & the West

March 16: Poets, Monks, & Mystical Theology

March 30: Cannons, Preachers & Cathedral Schools

April 13: The Dialectic Method & its Enemies

April 27: the “Two Swords” and the “Two Laws”

May 4: St. Bernard, the Military Orders & the Second Crusade

May 25: The Growth of Chivalry and Social Complexity

All sessions will meet on Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Wine & Cheese Reception

Entrance Fee at door of $10.00

St. Joseph’s Church - Casserly Hall

Christian Conflict Resolution Process

A Pax Christi Metro NY Workshop

January 13th and 20th, 2008

Pax Christi Metro New York invites you to learn or hone your interpersonal conflict resolution skills at First Steps: A Christian Conflict Resolution Process workshop in the library of St. Joseph’s Greenwich Village Parish House from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, January 26th. The cost of $40 includes a manual worth $20 and light refreshments. Advance registration is required. Please contact 212-420-0250 or .

Religion and the Race for the Presidency

The Kennedy Moment

Wednesday, January 16

6-8 PM

Fordham University

Lincoln Center Campus

Pope Auditorium

113 West 60th Street

A re-examination of John F. Kennedy’s 1960 Houston speech: its origins, its political and cultural context, its arguments and rhetoric – and its relevance for the 2008 presidential election.

Speakers included Robert P. George, J. Bryan Hehir and Sean Casey

Free and open to the public

RSVP or (212) 636-7347

For more information visit

www.fordham.edu/ReligCulture

FEAST DAYS, SCRIPTURE CITATIONS
AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK
SATURDAY, Jan. 12
1 John 5: 14-21/John 3: 22-30
12:10 PM Anna Papalia
5:30 PM Rebecca Stewart
SUNDAY, Jan. 13 – Baptism of the Lord
9:00 AM Stefania Borodzinska
11:30 AM Rev. Thomas Heath, O.P.
6:00 PM
MONDAY, Jan. 14 – First Week in Ordinary Time
1 Samuel 1: 1-8/Mark 1: 14-20
12:10 PM
5:30 PM
TUESDAY, Jan. 15
1 Samuel 1: 9-20/Mark 1: 21-28
12:10 PM Enrico Donati
5:30 PM Lucille DiLeo (5th Anniversary)
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16
1 Samuel 3: 1-10; 19-20/Mark 1: 29-39
12:10 PM
5:30 PM Winifred Duffy
THURSDAY, Jan. 17 – St. Anthony-Abbot
1 Samuel 4: 1-11/Mark 1: 40-45
12:10 PM Benjamin Abelow (living)
5:30 PM
FRIDAY, Jan. 18
1 Samuel 8: 4-7; 10-22a/Mark 2: 1-12
12:10 PM Luis Angel Figueroa
5:30 PM Mel Cheren
SATURDAY, Jan. 19
1 Samuel 9: 1-4; 17-19; 10: 1a/Mark 2: 13-17
12:10 PM
5:30 PM
SUNDAY, Jan. 20 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 49: 3; 5-6/1 Corinthians 1: 1-3/John 1: 29-34
·  1st. Thurs. of the mo. Pax Christi Bd. Mtg. – 6:30 p.m.- in the Pax Christi Office
·  1st. Fri. of the mo. Novena to the Sacred Heart after the 5:30 p.m. mass
·  1st. Sat. of the mo. Blessings for the Sick after the 12:10 mass
·  2nd. Wed. of the mo. Altar Rosary 7:00 p.m. - Library
PARISH ACTIVITIES THIS WEEK
For NYU Catholic Center Events please see the new website: washingtonsquarecatholic.org
MONDAY
6:30 PM Centering Prayer Music Room
FRIDAY
6:15 PM St. Egidio Prayer Church
8:00 PM Narcotics Anonymous Casserly Hall SATURDAY
10:00 AM or 1:00 PM Soup Kitchen Casserly Hall
6:00 PM Alcoholics Anonymous Casserly Hall
SUNDAY
9:15 AM Children’s Religious Instruction Farrell Hall
10:00 AM Adult Scripture Discussion Library
VISIT THE NEW PARISH WEB SITE: www.washingtonsquarecatholic.org