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This weekend we end the Christmas season with the Baptism of the Lord, now we begin Ordinary Time for several weeks and then we begin Lent. The Baptism of the Lord is the great event celebrated by the Eastern churches on the feast of Epiphany because it is the occasion of the first public revelation of all Three Persons in the Holy Trinity, and the official revelation of Jesus as the Son of God to the world by God the Father. Hence, it is described by all four gospels. It marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.
Many Fathers of the Church explain that sinless Jesus received baptism of repentance to identify himself with his people. Jesus might have been waiting for this most opportune moment to begin his public ministry. The Fathers point out that the voice from the heavenly Father is an adaptation of Psalm 2:17, "This is my beloved Son," and of Isaiah 42:1 referring to the "suffering servant": "with whom I am well pleased.” This meant that Jesus’ baptism by John was the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God’s Suffering Servant to atone for the sins of mankind.
The baptism by John was a very important event in the life of Jesus. First, it was a moment of decision to begin public ministry. Second, it was a moment of identification with us sinners. Third, it was a moment of approval when his heavenly Father approved Jesus as His "beloved Son". Fourth, it was a moment of conviction that his mission was to preach the good news of God’s love and salvation and to atone for our sins by becoming the “suffering servant.” Fifth, it was a moment of equipment. The Holy Spirit equipped Jesus by descending on him in the form of dove, giving him the power of preaching and healing.
The baptism of Jesus reminds us of our identity. First, it reminds us of who we are and Whose we are. By baptism, we become sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, members of his Church, heirs of heaven and temples of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, Jesus’ baptism reminds us also of our mission: to experience the presence of God within us, to acknowledge our own dignity as God’s children, and to appreciate the divine presence in others by honoring them, loving them and serving them in all humility. His baptism reminds us to live as the children of God in thought, word and action; to accept both the good and the bad experiences of life as the gifts of a loving Heavenly Father for our growth in holiness; to grow daily in intimacy with God by personal and family prayers, by meditative reading of the Word of God, by participating in the Holy Mass, and by frequenting the sacrament of reconciliation. It is a day to thank God for the graces we received in baptism, to renew our baptismal vows and to preach Christ’s ‘Good News’ by our transparent Christian lives of love, mercy, service and forgiveness.
God’s Blessings Always, Fr. Chris Nowak
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