Question of the Week
What did John the Baptist testify about Jesus and why?
“I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” — Isaiah 49:6
In the first reading on this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the Suffering Servant of God reveals the servant’s mission. He is to bring back and gather all the tribes of Israel (Jacob). God’s grace and glory will rest on him and God himself will be the servant’s strength. But God will do even more! Not only will the house of Jacob be blessed, but the entire world will be blessed! God’s light, truth, and salvation will reach to the ends of the earth!
This is fulfilled in Jesus! John testifies that Jesus is the anointed one of God, for he saw the Holy Spirit come down and remain on Jesus! He will baptize with the fire of the Holy Spirit! What does that mean?
Well, from our perspective, we know what happened at Pentecost! The Holy Spirit came down in the form of fire and rested on the apostles and Mary, who were gathered in prayer in the upper room. The Holy Spirit continues to be with us, completing and accomplishing the work Jesus started during his public ministry.
That work continues in the Church, and especially in and through the liturgy. We are very blessed to have beautiful liturgies here. I am grateful for everyone’s participation. As you know, we have two different forms of the Latin Rite, one that is from 1962 missal of Pope St. John XIII and the second promulgated by Pope St. John Paul II that is in use today. Both are Latin Rite missals that contain the prayers and order of celebrating the Latin liturgy.
In Eucharistic Prayer III, there is a beautiful line that comes from the prophecy of Malachi and Psalm 113:3 that says, “From the rising of the sun, to its setting” may the name of the Lord be praised. The prophecy from Malachi says, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, my name is great among the nations; incense offerings are made to my name everywhere, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.” This prophecy is especially fulfilled in the Church as it celebrates the New Covenant established by Jesus at the Last Supper. All over the world, the Mass is celebrated continuously. It is celebrated using various rites. The Latin Rite is just one of the ways to offer the sacrifice of Christ.
There is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church that has six main liturgical rites that celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. Out of those six main rites, there are 24 particular churches that are self-governing (sui iuris). The Latin Rite is the largest of the churches, and all are under the leadership of the pope. For your edification, here is list of the six rites all under the umbrella of the Catholic Church:
Latin Rite
- Latin Catholic Church
Alexandrian Rite
- Coptic Catholic Church
- Eritrean Catholic Church
- Ethiopian Catholic Church
West Syrian (or Antiochene) Rite
- Maronite Catholic Church
- Syriac Catholic Church
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Armenian Rite
- Armenian Catholic Church
East Syrian (or Chaldean) Rite
- Chaldean Catholic Church
- Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Constantinopolitan (or Byzantine) Rite
- Albanian Catholic Church
- Belarusian Catholic Church
- Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church
- Byzantine Church of Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro (or Križevci Catholic Church)
- Greek Byzantine Catholic Church
- Hungarian Greek Catholic Church
- Italo-Albanian Catholic Church
- Macedonian Catholic Church
- Melkite Greek Catholic Church
- Romanian Catholic Church
- Russian Catholic Church
- Ruthenian Catholic Church (or Byzantine Catholic Church in America)
- Slovak Catholic Church
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Unity in diversity glorifies God, who brings together people from all nations into one body in Christ! May our parish with all its diversity continue to be a light for Ann Arbor that God’s salvation may pour forth from each of us! God bless you!