St. Michael St. Francis Xavier January 10, 2021 Charlestown & Henryville The Baptism of the Lord Thicker Than Water Water is a rich and potent symbol. We all know that no life on earth would be possible without it. We use it for our sustenance, our cleansing, our relaxation; it touches nearly every facet of human life, and its absence is soon noted. Without, the grain, wine, milk, and other “rich fare” from Isaiah would not be possible. The messianic age is characterized as a time of abundance and fertility, not attainable without water. It was a precious commodity in Jesus’ world. Water has its dark, dangerous side as well—the chaos of the dawn of creation was symbolized by water, the earth was destroyed (and still knows destruction) by the waters of the flood. Israel risked it all in the waters of the Red Sea as they fled Egypt and entered the desert. In similar fashion, today Jesus risks it all in his calling as Son of God and, like the Israel whose son he also was, he will enter the desert in the next few verses of Mark’s Gospel.
Another powerful life symbol is blood. Like water, it is essential. John’s letter today tells us that three things testify to Jesus as the Son of God: water, blood, and the Spirit. Today’s feast forms a hinge of sorts between the two great “water and blood” moments in the life of Jesus. It is the culmination of the season of the Nativity, the time when we remember and celebrate that Jesus came into the world as a fully human being, in water and blood. It is also the day on which he begins his public ministry of calling Israel to repentance by proclaiming the reign of God, a ministry that will ultimately end in water and blood as he is crucified. But hovering over all of this is the Holy Spirit. It is by the Spirit that Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary; it is the Spirit who guides his entire ministry from Jordan to Calvary; and it will be the Spirit who brings his resurrected life back to the world, who continues it to this very day in the waters of baptism and the blood of disciples, by which his Body, the Church, is still proclaiming the reign of God to the world. Más espesa que el agua El agua es símbolo rico y potente. Todos sabemos que no puede haber vida en la tierra sin ella. La usamos para nuestro sustento, nuestro aseo, nuestra relajación; toca prácticamente cada faceta de la vida humana, y su ausencia se nota muy pronto. Sin ella no habría grano, ni vino, ni leche, ni otros “ricos manjares” mencionados en Isaías. La era mesiánica es caracterizada como un tiempo de abundancia y fertilidad, inalcanzable sin el agua. Y era un lujo en tiempos de Jesús. El agua tiene también su lado oscuro y peligroso—simbolizó el caos del principio de la creación, la tierra fue destruida (y todavía sufre destrucción) por las aguas del diluvio. Israel lo arriesgó todo en las aguas del mar Rojo cuando huyó de Egipto y se adentró en el desierto. De modo similar, hoy Jesús arriesga todo en su llamado como Hijo de Dios y, como el Israel del que él también es hijo, entrará en el desierto en los próximos versículos del Evangelio de Marcos.
Otro poderoso símbolo de vida es la sangre. Al igual que el agua, es esencial. La carta de Juan hoy nos dice que tres cosas dan testimonio de Jesús como Hijo de Dios: agua, sangre y el Espíritu. La fiesta de hoy conecta los dos grandes momentos de “agua y sangre” en la vida de Jesús. Es la culminación de la estación de Navidad, cuando recordamos y celebramos que Jesús vino al mundo como un ser completamente humano, en agua y en sangre. Es también el día en que comienza su ministerio público invitando a Israel a la conversión, proclamando el Reino de Dios, un ministerio que culminará en agua y sangre al ser él crucificado. Pero revoloteando encima de todo esto está el Espíritu Santo. Por el Espíritu Jesús fue concebido en el vientre de María, fue el Espíritu quien guió todo su ministerio desde el Jordán hasta el Calvario, y será el Espíritu quien traerá su vida resucitada al mundo, en donde continúa viviendo hasta el presente en las aguas del bautismo y la sangre de discípulos, mediante ellos, su Cuerpo, la Iglesia está aún proclamando al mundo el Reino de Dios.
Today’s Readings: Isaiah 55:1-11; Isaiah 12:2-3, 4-6; 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11 Lecturas de hoy: Isaías 60:1-6; Isaías 12:2-3, 4-6; 1 Juan 5:1-9; Marcos 1:7-11 Copyright © 2005, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.
Fr. Adam Ahern,Pastor Email: [email protected] Office: (812) 256-3200 Emergency: (812) 307-8796 Cherie Kopp,Secretary - St. Michael And a voice came from [email protected] | (502) 403-9755 the heavens, “You are Joann Ettel,Secretary - St. Francis Xavier my beloved Son; with [email protected] | (502) 931-1499 you I am well pleased.” Rita Poff,Director - St. Michael School [email protected] | (812) 256-3503 Mark1:11 Jessica Sarver,Youth Religious Education Coordinator [email protected] | (502) 773-1853 Luz Niño,Hispanic Community Coordinator [email protected] | (502) 294-5976 Mikayla Koble,Communications Coordinator [email protected] | (701) 340-0240 Please Pray for Health and Strength Prayer Ministry Lord, hear our prayers for: Our Instant Prayer Ministry offers daily instant Alica & Bruce Blair, Marie Schafer, Dorothy Smith, prayers as requested. If you or someone you know Glinda Minnick, Deborah Gleason, Jeff Bridges, Chuck is in need of special prayers, please contact Ledbetter, Allisa Rash Gossman, Michelle Korty, Miriam Teresa Helton at (812) 248-0528 or (812) 406-7195. State, John Williams, Joyce Schafer, Sandy Baltz, Helen Beiswanger, Garett Chiswell, Billy Collings, Lorrie Cox, Additionally, our Prayer Chain Ministry offers the Bernice Donahue, Sammy Eckenfels, Juliann Eichholtz, service of prayers by a dedicated group of individuals Mary Garrett, Elmer & Jane Graf, Joe Hoffman, Juanita praying for your requests. Please contact Debbie Lyons Hoffman, Sam Huff, James Kinder, Raymond Kopp, at (812) 256-2189 or (812) 391-6702. David Korty, Kay Ledbetter, Milo Metz, Connie Mull, Mitch Newland, Beulah Orberson, Mary Ridenour, Carroll If you, or if you know of anyone needing Schafer, Alley Schoenbachler, Dorothy Smith, Jane Homebound Ministry, Synovec, Richard Tormoehlen, Keegan Traub, Barbara please contact the Rectory at (812) 256-3200 Tully, Amanda Weber, Tudy Willeford, or text Cherie: (502) 403-9755 or email at Valerie Lucas [email protected] Names will remain on the list for 6 months unless you tell us to remove them or request that they be kept longer.
MASS INTENTIONS Next Week Mass Intentions may be submitted Jan 08 St. Michael Friday NOON Frieda James to the Rectory – please provide Jan 09 St. Michael Saturday 4:30 pm Joseph & Mary Wafford Anniversary name and we will schedule (we do Jan 10 St. Francis Sunday 9:00 am Barbara Baird our best to accommodate specific Jan 10 St. Michael Sunday 11:00 am Diane Goedecker dates when requested). Mass Intentions are $10 per Jan 10 St. Michael Sunday (Sp) 12:30 pm Souls in Purgatory requested Mass. However, please do not let the cost prevent you from Next Week sending in an Intention, we are Jan 13 St. Michael Wednesday 4:30 pm Leonard Eickholtz here to serve. Jan 14 St. Francis Thursday 6:00 pm James Harbeson, Sr. Jan 15 St. Michael Friday NOON Flo Wessel Jan 16 St. Michael Saturday 4:30 pm Donald Barker Jan 17 St. Francis Sunday 9:00 am Gordon Dragoon Jan 17 St. Michael Sunday 11:00 am Rev. Lewis Brown Jan 17 St. Michael Sunday (Sp) 12:30 pm Mrs. Pierina Piker
MINISTRY SCHEDULE
This Weekend Next Weekend St. Michael – Saturday, January 09 – 4:30 pm St. Michael – Saturday, January 16 – 4:30 pm Lector: Steve & Sherry Buit Lector: Steve & Sherry Buit Eucharistic Minister: N/A at this time Eucharistic Minister: N/A at this time Ushers: Cherie Kopp Ushers: Cherie Kopp
St. Michael – Sunday, January 10 – 11:00 am St. Michael – Sunday, January 17 – 11:00 am Lector: Cheryl Dunn Lector: Cheryl Dunn Eucharistic Minister: N/A at this time Eucharistic Minister: N/A at this time Ushers Michael Howard, Michael Hooper Ushers Michael Howard, Michael Hooper
St. Francis – Sunday, January 10 – 9:00 am St. Francis – Sunday, January 17 – 9:00 am Lector: Joe Banet Lector: Emily Horine Eucharistic Minister: N/A at this time Eucharistic Minister: N/A at this time Usher: Bill Short Usher: Clint Horine Cantor: Emily Horine Cantor: Ann Harbeson
Anyone interested in being an Altar Server, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Cantor, or Usher, please contact Fr. Adam Ahern after Mass or call the Rectory for more info.We are building God’s Army together! St. Michael, Charlestown St. Francis Xavier, Henryville 101 St. Michael Drive 101 North Ferguson Charlestown, IN 47111 Henryville, IN 47126 (812) 256-3200 (812) 294-4682
stmichaelcharlestown.org stfrancisxavierhenryville.org @stmichaelchurchcharlestown @stfrancisxavierhenryville
Mass Times Mass Times Wednesday 4:30 pm Thursday 6:00 pm Friday 12:00 pm Sunday 9:00 am Saturday 4:30 pm Sunday 11:00 am Reconciliation Thursday 4:30-5:30 pm La Misa en español Domingo 12:30 pm Office Hours Thursday 10:30 am - 1:30 pm Reconciliation Wednesday 5:30-6:30 pm Saturday 3:00-4:00 pm We are called by the Lord Rosary to be a Spirit-filled, 30-min prior to Mass on Saturday and Sunday Gospel-directed, and Life-giving community. OfficeHours T, W, TH 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Marriage:Please contact the pastor a year in advance. Advent and Lent are not times for celebrations. Baptisms of Infants or Adults Joining the Church:Must be a practicing/registered member for three months & must meet with Pastor. Please contact: St. Michael – Jessica Sarver, St. Francis – Fr. Ahern Sacraments: Children Gr. 1-12 must be enrolled & attend Faith Formation Classes the year prior and after receiving the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, & Confirmation. New to the Parish:Please call the office to register. Please introduce yourself to Fr. Ahern at Mass. Parishoners Who Are Ill: Please call Fr. Ahern or the rectory if a relative or friend is sick. Bulletin Announcements:Announcements must be received in writing by Tuesday evening – inserts must be forwarded ready for print.
Los Enfermos: Es muy importante con el Padre (debido a las leyes privadas, los hospitales no se comunican con las iglesias). Doctrina Cristiana: Las clases de educación religiosa para niños son cada domingo de 9:30 am-10:50 am en la escuela. Recuerden que la Arquidiócesis requiere que los que van a recibir los sacramentos estén inscritos en las clases de religión. Monaguillos: Los niños que quieran ayudar como monaguillos en el altar tienen su ensayo el segundo domingo de cada mes después de la misa de 11:00 am. Estos niños y niñas tienen que haber hecho la Primera Comunión. Los interesados comunicarse con Pbro. In response to COVID-19 and guidelines provided by the CDC, the White House, the Governor of Indiana, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and our local health department, the following procedures are in place until further notice. Please do not come to Church if you are sick or over 65 years of age or suffer any underlying conditions. If you do attend Mass and discover that you have the virus or are “asymptomatic” – please contact us as soon as possible letting us know which Mass you attended – we will alert those who may have come into contact with you (without disclosing your identity). Parents with small children should be cautious in bringing children to Church at this time. Social distancing is observed at all times. Masks are required at all liturgies. Please no gathering, hand-shaking, or embracing. The Church is sanitized after/or between Masses. Reminder – the Archbishop has dispensed all members of the Archdiocese from what is called “the Sunday obligation of attending and participating in Mass. If you cannot come or feel uncomfortable at this time, it is allowed that you not attend. Under this unique circumstance, things may change, please be patient andflexible,asthisis“new”tousall.Wewillkeepyouupdated. Link to USCCB – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops purposeful information: http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/usccb-president-reflection-and-prayer-during-coronavirus.cfm Collection Report – Week January 03 St. Michael $4,378 St. Francis Xavier $1,233 Thank you for your continued prayers, service, and contribution. It is greatly appreciated and supports each of our parish efforts daily.
Online Giving:http://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=Hg94dq
Special Collection: A reminder that there will be a special collection on January 24th for the Church in Latin America
Announcements Thank you to Carol Combs for the new banners in the church!
St. Michael Parish CouncilMeeting January 19th at 6:30 pm
Faith Formation Meeting January 20th at 7:00 pm
The month of January is devoted to theMost Holy Name of Jesus. You can find a link to theLitany of the Holy Name of Jesus on our website: stmichaelcharlestown.org
THE Baptism of the Lord – January 10, 2021
First Reading Isaiah 55:1-11 Second Reading 1 John 5:1-9 Isaiah calls upon the people to return to the Lord. The Spirit of Truth testifies on behalf of Jesus, God's Son. Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12:2-3, 4-6 Gospel Reading Mark 1:7-11 A prayer of praise for God's salvation. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.
Background on the Gospel Reading Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In most years, this feast is celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. When Epiphany falls on either January 7 or 8, the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on the Monday after Epiphany.
In today's Gospel we hear John the Baptist contrast his baptism of repentance with the baptism that Jesus will inaugurate. John the Baptist says that he has baptized with water, but that the one who is to come will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John's baptism was not yet a Christian baptism; it was a preparation for the Christian Baptism we celebrate today, and through which sins are forgiven and the gift of the Holy Spirit is received. In accepting John's baptism, Jesus, though sinless, united himself with all sinners.
The baptism of Jesus is reported in each of the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Clearly, Jesus' baptism was an event of great significance for Jesus and for the early Christian community. Mark and Luke report the story from Jesus' perspective; the voice from heaven is addressed to Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel, the voice from heaven speaks to all who are present. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism shows that something new is beginning through the baptism and ministry of Jesus.
The baptism of Jesus is considered an important manifestation of God in the person of Jesus, another epiphany. Jesus' baptism inaugurates his mission. Mark's Gospel moves quickly from the report of Jesus' baptism to Jesus' temptations in the desert to his ministry in Galilee after John's arrest. The end of the ministry of John the Baptist is the beginning of Jesus' ministry. In an analogous way, our Baptism inaugurates our mission as Christians.
Surprisingly, on this the last day of the Christmas season the Gospel does not tell a story from Jesus' childhood. Instead the Gospel reveals Jesus' relationship to God: the Son of Mary and Joseph is also God's own Son. We believe that through Baptism we are also made children of God. Reprinted from:https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/ MASS READINGS First Reading Isaiah 55:1-11 (cont.) Thus says the LORD: Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; All you who are thirsty, let this be known throughout all the earth. come to the water! Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, You who have no money, for great in your midst come, receive grain and eat; is the Holy One of Israel! come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread, R. (3) You will draw water joyfully your wages for what fails to satisfy? from the springs of salvation. Heed me, and you shall eat well, you shall delight in rich fare. Second Reading 1 John 5:1-9 Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. Beloved: I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ the benefits assured to David. is begotten by God, As I made him a witness to the peoples, and everyone who loves the Father a leader and commander of nations, loves also the one begotten by him. so shall you summon a nation you knew not, In this way we know that we love the children of God and nations that knew you not shall run to you, when we love God and obey his commandments. because of the LORD, your God, For the love of God is this, the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you. that we keep his commandments. Seek the LORD while he may be found, And his commandments are not burdensome, call him while he is near. for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. and the wicked man his thoughts; Who indeed is the victor over the world let him turn to the LORD for mercy; but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? to our God, who is generous in forgiving. This is the one who came through water and blood, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Jesus Christ, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. not by water alone, but by water and blood. As high as the heavens are above the earth The Spirit is the one who testifies, so high are my ways above your ways and the Spirit is truth. and my thoughts above your thoughts. So there are three that testify, For just as from the heavens the Spirit, the water, and the blood, the rain and snow come down and the three are of one accord. and do not return there If we accept human testimony, till they have watered the earth, the testimony of God is surely greater. making it fertile and fruitful, Now the testimony of God is this, giving seed to the one who sows that he has testified on behalf of his Son. and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; Gospel Acclamation John 1:29 my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, R. Alleluia, alleluia. achieving the end for which I sent it. John saw Jesus approaching him, and said: Behold the Lamb of God Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 who takes away the sin of the world. R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation. R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. Gospel Reading Mark 1:7-11 My strength and my courage is the LORD, This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: and he has been my savior. “One mightier than I is coming after me. With joy you will draw water I am not worthy to stoop at the fountain of salvation. and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; R. (3) You will draw water joyfully he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” from the springs of salvation. It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; and was baptized in the Jordan by John. among the nations make known his deeds, On coming up out of the water proclaim how exalted is his name. he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. R. (3) You will draw water joyfully And a voice came from the heavens, from the springs of salvation. “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Baptism Word Search