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Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne
January 11, 2026
On this page you will find:
The readings for Mass, the Mass leaflet with the choice of hymns
A sample universal prayer available for download, in PDF and editable Word formats.
A meditation on the Sunday Gospel, a spiritual text and commentary by Marie-Noëlle Thabut
Baptism of the Lord
Party
As soon as Jesus was baptized,
he saw the Spirit of God come upon him
Matthew 3:13-17
Readings from the Mass
Mass leaflet
Universal Prayer
Consult the Lectio Divina page, which invites you to read the Gospel in a prayerful atmosphere so that you may be touched in your heart. It is important not to rush to read commentaries or homilies before having this personal experience of encountering Christ in Scripture.
Next, if you wish, you can read the meditations below which will enrich your personal reading and meditation.
Meditation by Pope Francis
Today, at the close of the Christmas liturgical season, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The Liturgy calls us to know Jesus more fully, whose birth we have just celebrated; and for this the Gospel (cf. Lk 3:15-16, 21-22) illustrates two important elements: Jesus' relationship with the people and Jesus' relationship with the Father.
In the account of the baptism conferred by John the Baptist upon Jesus in the waters of the Jordan, we see above all the role of the people. Jesus is in the midst of the people. They do not merely serve as a backdrop to the scene, but are an essential component of the event. Before immersing himself in the water, Jesus "immerses" himself in the crowd, uniting with them by fully assuming the human condition, sharing everything except sin. In his divine holiness, full of grace and mercy, the Son of God became flesh to take upon himself and remove the sin of the world: to take upon himself our miseries, our human condition. This is why today, too, is an epiphany, for by going to be baptized by John, in the midst of the penitents of his people, Jesus manifests the logic and meaning of his mission.
By uniting himself with the people who asked John for the Baptism of repentance, Jesus also shared their profound desire for inner renewal. And the Holy Spirit descending upon him “in bodily form, like a dove” (v. 22) is the sign that with Jesus begins a new world, a “new creation” of which all who welcome Christ into their lives are a part. To each of us, too, who have been born again with Christ in baptism, are addressed these words of the Father: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you” (v. 22). This love of the Father, which we all received on the day of our baptism, is a flame that has been kindled in our hearts, and which needs to be fueled by prayer and charity.
The second point emphasized by the evangelist Luke is that after his immersion among the people and in the waters of the Jordan, Jesus immerses himself in prayer, that is, in communion with the Father. Baptism is the beginning of Jesus' public life, of his mission in the world as the Father's envoy, sent to manifest his goodness and love for humanity. This mission is accomplished in constant and perfect union with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The mission of the Church, and indeed that of each of us, to be faithful and fruitful, is called to be grafted onto that of Jesus. It is a matter of continually renewing evangelization and the apostolate in prayer, in order to bear clear Christian witness, not according to our human plans, but according to God's plan and style.
Dear brothers and sisters, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a fitting occasion to renew with gratitude and conviction the promises of our baptism, committing ourselves to living each day in accordance with it. It is also very important, as I have told you several times, to know the date of your baptism. I could ask, "Who among you knows the date of their baptism?" Certainly not all of you. If someone among you doesn't know it, when they get home, let them ask their parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, godparents, family friends… Let them ask, "On what date was I baptized?" And then don't forget it: let it be a date kept in your heart, to celebrate each year.
May Jesus, who saved us not for our own merits but to carry out the Father's immense goodness, make us merciful to all. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, be our guide and our model.
DE — EN — ES — FR — HR — IT — PT
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
POPE FRANCIS
ANGELUS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, January 13, 2019
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Homily
Draw from the source
A week ago, we were still in Bethlehem with the Magi. We joyfully celebrated the birth of Jesus and his revelation to the Gentile world. Today, we are transported back thirty years to celebrate another Epiphany, the one that took place during his baptism by John. It is Jesus' entry into his public ministry.
This event was foretold in the sixth century BC. At that time, the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon; the prophet Isaiah strove to restore their courage: he announced the "servant" whose mission would be to accomplish God's work of salvation. God's will is to save all humanity. He is the one who opens the eyes of the blind and gives freedom to the oppressed. Above all, he is the one who makes a covenant with his people.
It is this hope that God's chosen people must bear witness to. Even if they are tossed about by the great empires of the time, nothing must stop them. Their mission is to make the true God known to the Gentiles. They must proclaim God's message "with firmness and gentleness." In the eyes of men, this may seem trivial. But God is there. He rests his Spirit upon his servant. The latter must bear witness that God is light and liberation for all people.
The New Testament applies this poem from Isaiah to Jesus. It is this good news proclaimed by the voice from heaven. Jesus truly is this non-violent servant, full of gentleness and discretion. It is he whom we are invited to listen to and follow. He presents himself to us as the "light of the nations." We, baptized and confirmed Christians, are sent to bring this light to the world today. We live in a society that seeks to distance itself from the good news of the Gospel. Many countries are threatened by de-Christianization. But nothing can stop the fulfillment of God's plan.
The second reading is taken from the Book of Acts. It speaks to us of the Gospel "for all." It is not reserved only for an elite of the devout. It must reach the whole world. There are no limits to the message of peace and freedom that God proclaims through his Son. Jesus Christ became Lord of all, including the Gentiles. The Spirit of God goes before us into their hearts. It is he who makes the Word of his messengers bear fruit. Pentecost in pagan circles continues every day. God never ceases to act beyond the visible boundaries of his Church.
The Gospel recounts the event of Jesus' baptism by John. This is his first public appearance. He mingles with the crowd of sinners to receive baptism from John. Yet, he has no sins to be forgiven. He therefore has no need to repent. This baptism of Jesus was not necessary for him. But it was necessary for us. If Jesus chose to receive this baptism, it was to be immersed in our very real human condition. He entered the waters of the Jordan pure of all sin. He emerged bearing all the sin of the world. This evil that overwhelms us, he takes upon himself, for he wants to free us from it. He wants to free us from it because he wants us to live happily.
This feast of the Lord announces another, far greater baptism, the one Christians receive. On one hand, we see Jesus entering the muddy waters of the Jordan and taking upon himself all our sins. With Christian baptism, we are immersed in this ocean of love that is in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is important for us: we live in a world beset by hatred and violence. All of this is a booby trap that we absolutely must get rid of. We are sent into this world as it is to tell it and show it through our whole lives that God loves it. With Jesus, nothing can ever be the same again. He is the one who gave God to humanity and humanity to God.
With this feast, we enter Ordinary Time. It is a less festive period, but it remains important. It is here that we will need to grow in faithfulness and in listening to the Word of God. With Jesus, we are the agents of a new world that is already here, but which must be nurtured. We are called to act in the manner of a servant, bearer and dispenser of God's love.
It is for this mission that we come to be refreshed at the Eucharistic table. Christ is here to share his life with us. He is the living bread on our human journeys. We pray to you, Lord, help us to truly rediscover the strength and grandeur of this gift you give us. Grant us to immerse ourselves each day in this ocean of love that is in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen
Sources: Feu Nouveau magazines, L'Intelligence des Écritures (Narie Noëlle Thabut), Sunday Biblical Readings (A Vanhoye), Ta Parole est ma joie (Joseph Proux)
Understanding the readings
with Marie-Noëlle THABUT
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