St. Stephen Parish SaintStephenSF.org | 451 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco CA 94132 | Church 415 681-2444 StStephenSchoolSF.org | 401 Eucalyptus Dr., San Francisco 94132 | School 415 664-8331 Weekday Mass: 8:00 a.m. Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30 p.m. or by appt. Vigil Mass Saturday 4:30 p.m., Sunday Mass 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 a.m. & 6:45 p.m. Our Mission Statement We are a Catholic Community that is called by God to follow Jesus Christ. We believe that we are called to worship God together, to lead God's people along the path of hope laid down by Jesus, to share his message through preaching, through the education and formation of our people, young and old, and through caring ser- vice and sensitive outreach to those in need Rev. Tony P. LaTorre, Pastor Baptism of the Lord Three of the four Gospels recall the Baptism of the Lord, each one in its own way. The version we heard today, from Mat- thew, is unique in recalling that when Jesus came to the Jor- dan, John the Baptist at first tried to prevent him, saying that he was the one who needed to be baptized by Jesus. But Jesus replies, Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Here, Matthew is keen to emphasize that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises made to Israel – as found in the first reading – and the one whose sandals John is unfit to carry (Cf., Matthew 3:11). John acqui- esced to Jesus’ request, and upon coming up from the water, Jesus is revealed as my beloved Son through a voice from heaven, while the Spirit descends upon him in the form of a dove. As we hear this Gospel proclaimed, we note this revelation/divine action occurs after Jesus comes up from the waters of the Jordan. We, too, have emerged from the waters of baptism, and been anointed with the same Spirit. The words of the Father are words meant for us, too, for we also are God’s beloved. If anything, this feast has as much to say about us as it does about Jesus and his identity. Yes, by going down into the waters of the Jordan, Jesus demonstrates his solidarity with our broken world, but we know that he was without sin and so his baptism is different from ours. Unlike Christ who embodied perfection, we have to choose whether or not to live up to that baptismal identity, and to continue his divine work in our world to- day. We who gather here have made this choice, it seems. We may not do it perfectly, but by our profession of faith and openness to the grace available at this Mass we are, at the very least, committed to trying our best. May God bless us in our efforts, and may the Eucharist continue to transform us for the sake of the world. May God’s blessings be with all of you this day and always. Father Tony LaTorre LITURGY AND LIFE • Where do you notice God’s majesty? • In a time as short as an elevator ride, could you explain your reason for belief? • What responsibilities come with your Baptism? THE DIGNITY OF BAPTISM When the Christmas season officially ends with a commemoration of a moment in the life of the adult Jesus, it reminds all of us that Christmas is not simply about a baby. The incarnation is more than just a beautiful manger scene. Christmas recalls the inau- guration of Christ’s mission to the world, a mission that will require of Jesus, and of us, to make difficult choices for the sake of God’s kingdom. In Jesus’ life, and in our as his followers, that mission began with baptism. Today’s feast is an opportune moment for all of us to recall the dignity of our baptism. Baptism is the sacramental beginning of a life of missionary discipleship and the doorway to all the sacra- ments. It is what makes us full and complete members of Christ’s body. Let us be aware of anything we do or say that may lessen the dignity of the baptized or communicate that one needs something more than baptism to be recognized as members of God’s holy priesthood: “By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission . .Baptism gives us a share in the common priesthood of all believers.” (CCC 1268) ADDITONAL THOUGHTS FROM TODAY’S THEME OF BAPTISM The baptism of Jesus reminds us of our crate our bodies (the temples of the Holy Spirit and mem- identity and mission. First, it reminds bers of Jesus' Body) by impurity, injustice, intolerance, us of who we are and Whose we jealousy or hatred; d) to accept both the good and the bad experiences of life as the gifts of a loving Heavenly Father are. By Baptism we become the adop- for our growth in holiness; e) to grow daily in intimacy tive sons and daughters of God, brothers with God by personal and family prayers, by reading the and sisters of Jesus, members of his Word of God, by participating in the Holy Mass, and by Church, heirs of Heaven and temples of frequenting the Sacrament of Reconciliation; f) to be co- the Holy Spirit. We become incorporated creators with God in building up the “Kingdom of God” on into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in earth, a Kingdom of compassion, justice and love, and to the priesthood of Christ [CCC 1279]. Hence, "Baptism is be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in This is the day for us to remember the graces we the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other Sac- have received in Baptism and to renew our Baptismal raments" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1213). Most promises: On the day of our baptism, as Pope Saint John of us dipped the fingers of our right hands into the holy Paul II explains, "We were anointed with the Oil of Cate- water font and blessed ourselves when we came into church chumens, the sign of Christ's gentle strength, to fight today. Why? This blessing is supposed to remind us of our against evil. Blessed water was poured over us, an effec- tive sign of interior purification through the gift of the Holy Baptism. And so when I bless myself with Holy Water, I Spirit. We were then anointed with Chrism to show should be thinking of the fact that I am a child of God; that we were thus consecrated in the image of Jesus, the that I have been redeemed by the Cross of Christ; that I Father's Anointed One. The candle lighted from the Pas- have been made a member of God’s family and that I chal Candle was a symbol of the light of faith which our have been washed, forgiven, cleansed and purified by the parents and godparents must have continually safeguarded Blood of the Lamb. and nourished with the life-giving grace of the Spir- it." This is also a day for us to renew our Baptismal prom- Jesus’ baptism reminds us of our mission: a) to ex- ises, consecrating ourselves to the Holy Trinity and perience the presence of God within us, to acknowledge our “rejecting Satan and all his empty promises," which our own dignity as God’s children, and to appreciate the Divine profane world is constantly offering us through its mass- Presence in others by honoring them, loving them and serv- media of communication. Let us ask Our Lord today to ing them in all humility; b) to live as the children of God in make us faithful to our Baptismal promises. Let us thank thought, word and action so that our Heavenly Father may Him for the privilege of being joined to His mission of say to each one of us what He said to Jesus: "You are my preaching the "Good News" by our transparent Christian beloved son/daughter with whom I am well pleased"; c) to lives of love, mercy, service and forgiveness. lead a holy and transparent Christian life and not to dese- LIVING STEWARDSHIP NOW Who’s In? Who’s Out? The book of Leviticus in the Old Testament contains a long list of rules for Jewish people to become “pure” and to main- tain that purity. This purity has nothing to do with simple cleanliness. The rituals to ensure purity guaranteed a worthiness to be in contact with sacred things. The code for the priests who officiated in the temple ceremonies required the highest degree of purity. The Pharisees would only eat with others who were keeping those strict laws of purity. Social exclusion was the Jewish norm. The elite mixed only with the elite and the pure with the pure. Some Jews, the Essenes, took themselves off to a desert settlement to be even more pure and exclusive. So, along comes John the Baptist. He walks around in animal skins, eats grasshoppers, and doesn’t seem to care all that much about the laws of Moses. He knows the Messiah, the Savior, is at hand and he says that all must repent and be baptized—men and women alike, and regardless of social status. No wonder the Phari- sees, Sadducees, and other elite people are shocked and enraged. Jesus appears and insists on being baptized, just like every- body else in the crowd attracted by John.