PARISH OF ST. JOHN’S WOOD/THE GAP BAPTISMS Mater Dei 3rd Sunday St Peter Chanel 4th Sunday Baptism preparation details available on our website under Parish Activities New Parishioners WELCOME Please place your name in the book at the back of the church. WELCOME Website: www.stjohnswoodthegap.net.au Parish Office: PO Box 408, The Gap, Qld 4061 Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 8.30 am—3.00 pm Contact: Phone: 3300 6099 Fax: 3300 6255 Churches: Mater Dei : 16 Philomene Drive, Ashgrove St Peter Chanel: 41 Chaprowe Road, The Gap Parish Priest: Fr. Vu Dinh Tuong [email protected]Parish Manager: Richard James [email protected]Parish of St John’s Wood\The Gap THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD - SUNDAY 10TH JANUARY 2016 Spirit and Fire John the Baptist called his followers to repent and believe the Good News. Those who came to him and were baptized by him accepted his teaching- and his teaching was that he was baptizing them with water as an introduction to the One who was to come. His baptism had no power to save but the One who was to come had the power to give salvation through the sacrament of baptism. John publicly declared that he was not the One awaited but only preparing for the One who was to come; who was, as yet not manifested, but who was much more powerful than John. The One who was to come would baptize with the power of the Spirit and with the blessings of Heavenly Fire. Those who accepted the teaching of John the Baptist, accepted also what he said about the One who was to come. John called for repentance and the readiness to welcome the One who was to come - Jesus. And when Jesus came he called us to believe in God the Father who had sent him to reveal God’s love for us. He came to live amongst us to give us salvation and eternal life. John was sent to prepare the way for the Lord and called us to believe the Good news. His teaching made people think that John was the Messiah but he denied saying he was not the Messiah but only preparing for the Messiah who was to come. John the visible messenger of God would open our eyes and mind to welcome the, as yet unseen, One who was to come. Jesus, the only Son of God was sinless and needed no baptism but he came to John for baptism in order to testify to the validity of the baptism John gave. John refused to baptize Jesus for two reasons. Firstly, John believed that Jesus, the Sinless One, had no need of baptism at all and secondly John felt himself unworthy to baptize Jesus. However, Jesus insisted that John baptize him. John probably had no idea that after receiving the baptism the Heavens would open and a Voice would call people to listen to Jesus. The Voice was telling us that Jesus is divine, the only Son of God, who came to live amongst us and to save us. The Voice and the presence of the dove were signs from ‘on high’ to testify to the divinity of Jesus. It also confirmed that what John had said about Jesus was correct and true in every aspect and that those who believed in him would be baptized with the Spirit and with Fire. Those baptized with Spirit and Fire would become heirs of the kingdom. Through baptism we become sons and daughters of God and become a member of God’s universal family on earth and in heaven. The baptism Jesus received affirmed that his teaching about God’s love and salvation for mankind came from God. Secondly, the voice from on high affirms the unity between God the Father in his words and deeds. To know and believe in Jesus is to know the Father and to listen to Jesus is to listen to the Father. God is not visible to us but we know God through the teachings of Jesus. Vu Dinh Tuong Rosary If you would like to pray the Rosary in your home please contact Bruce Bonney Phone: 3300 2959 Inside: Rosary 1 Bequest or Will 2 Sick, Deceased, Anniversaries School Leavers 3 Ignite Summer Camp Church Cleaners Drought Appeal Special Occasions Vocation View
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PARISH OF ST. JOHN’S WOOD/THE GAP
BAPTISMS
Mater Dei
3rd Sunday
St Peter Chanel
4th Sunday
Baptism preparation
details available on
our website under
Parish Activities
New Parishioners
WELCOME
Please place your name in
the book at the back of the
church.
WELCOME
Website: www.stjohnswoodthegap.net.au Parish Office: PO Box 408, The Gap, Qld 4061
Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 8.30 am—3.00 pm
Contact: Phone: 3300 6099 Fax: 3300 6255
Churches: Mater Dei : 16 Philomene Drive, Ashgrove