First Reading I John 5:5-13 Gospel Mark 1:7-11 or Luke 3:23-38

The first reading may reflect an apologetic against a very early heresy, that of the Ebionites. Ebionites believed that Jesus was Messiah, but they denied his divinity. Today’s firsr reading proclaims that we must accept Jesus as “coming in the flesh.” In other words, he is not merely a spiritual being; he is the Son of God become fully man. Many people today would like to accept Jesus “in the Spirit,” but they can’t believe that he truly came in the flesh, that he truly gave himself for our salvation on the cross, and that he is “one of us” as well as Son of God. Those who accept only a “spiritual” Jesus also find it impossible to accept the real Church – the Church guided by the Spirit, but also the Church with the “warts” of all weak human beings.
The optional gospel is the genealogy of Jesus back to Adam. The alternate gospel speaks of the baptism of Jesus by John. He is the beloved Son of God who will save us from our sins.

Also St. Andre Bessette (1845-1937)
Blessed Andre (who was born “Alfred”) had great devotion to St. Joseph at Montreal, Canada, where he was a Holy Cross lay brother. He dreamed of a great Church on Mount Royal. His dream is now a reality. For more than forty years, Andre labored simply as a porter, messenger and general “gofer” who washed windows and scrubbed floors. He was a great man of prayer. Long before his death, miracles were attributed to him. He was simple in intellect, and had a great sense of humor. He attributed any success to the power of prayer and especially to the intercession of St. Joseph.