Gospel for January 11 2026 – Matthew 3:13-17
Gospel Reflections for January 11 2026
I heard a message from God!
I actually didn’t …but does it make you nervous whenever people say that? It should. Today’s Gospel about the Baptism of Jesus offers wise advice, and affirms why He came to John to be Baptized.
Who knows whether any message from God is real? Anyone could just make an outrageous claim and say it’s from God.
Catholics always check objective sources about any divine message for authenticity. We know that God never contradicts Himself, so you can always ask if a new message agrees with the scriptures and traditions that God has already revealed. Does this new message help you better love God, your neighbor, or yourself? Does this message agree with centuries of authentic Church teaching? Finally, and most important, does it make simple common sense?
Every sacrament also has this same kind of public verification. You do not baptize, confirm, or absolve yourself! Your faith is not an entirely private event but must be visible, recognizable, and affirmed by others as well.
Jesus affirms this when He humbly presents Himself to John at the Jordan River and requests Baptism.
Our Lord affirms—even over John’s surprise—the goodness of this kind of objective review from another person, and willingly submits with a beautiful spirit of honesty and humility. His Father in heaven instantly votes His approval with a public message of acceptance and love.
All our Sacraments have this public review. Confirmation sponsors, wedding witnesses, and priests in confession all ensure that others see and affirm your faith, true commitment, or sincere contrition. There is a wisdom and common sense that Jesus had in setting up His sacraments in this public way. They help encourage the same level of honesty and humility that He had at the Jordan River and ensure for you the same vote of approval from Our Father in Heaven.
You will have a wonderful opportunity soon to take in a tremendous amount of wisdom in our UNIVERSITY SERIES during Lent. You can choose from over 40 different sessions on practical topics that connect our faith with real life. Catalogs arrive and online registrations begin on Sunday, January 25th. Plans on making this Lent a time to grow in wisdom!
Our Lord invites you to thoughtfully discern and recognize the authentic and reliable wisdom of God for your life. That is the solid and authentic voice of God you need today.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
There are so many sources coming from so many voices today that are false.
Thank you for clarifying the true voice of God, Fr. Dave!
We need the University Series to guide us.
See you in the University Series!
Dear Father Dave,
Thank you for this insightful reflection.
Hope this new year, 2026, is filled with God’s blessings.
Sincerely,
Kathleen
Happy and Blessed New Year!
The University Series is our precious reflections on the beauty of our loving faith!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this precious Series!!! All the world should attend and we would have a beautiful world!! Thank you for giving us this beautiful gift of loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Hello Fr. Dave!
Unfortunately, I can’t attend any of the classes in person because I live in Oceanside. Is there a way to zoom the University? Hopefully, yes? ?
For me , The University was a beautiful way of getting closer to God and always learning something new.
Thank you.
Thanks you for your kind words! Well, I have to say that the University Series is an in-person event. A lot more happens when people expend the energy to drive to a place and attend in person. We believe people are more likely to change because of what they hear in person than what they might see in a youtube video. That is our theory of why we keep in in-person.