Reflection for The Baptism of the Lord
First Reading:Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38
Gospel: Mark 1:7-11
Perhaps the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord prompts us to ask: Why did Jesus get baptized and why do we have a Sunday that focuses on Jesus’ Baptism? We celebrate this event in the life of Jesus every year, after the Feast of the Epiphany.
We know that the baptism of John the Baptist was a baptism of repentance, so that people would repent of their sins, change their lives and be able to recognize the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It was only a sign of wanting to begin a new life – it was to prepare for a life in Christ.
In fact, the Baptism of the Lord is a type of epiphany – as Jesus reveals who he is and why he became man. We see all three persons of the Holy Trinity present at this event. God, the Father speaks and the Holy Spirit hovers over the waters of the Jordan River. Remember when the Spirit hovered over the waters at the beginning of creation, in the Book of Genesis? Thus, the Spirit’s presence at the Baptism of the Lord, marks the beginning of a new creation, a re-creation, the re-creation of man and woman. Jesus is the new Adam of the new creation.
Jesus identifies himself as a member of the sinful human race, which needed conversion. We know that Jesus was without sin. Jesus took on our sin, beginning that day when he was baptized and carried that sin to his death on the cross, so that we could be redeemed. St. Paul wrote in 2Cor5:21 that Jesus became sin for us so that in him we might become “the righteousness of God.”
Just as Jesus started his mission on that day in the Jordan River, we are reminded that at our Baptism, our mission started too. Our mission is to serve the Lord, to love as Jesus loves us, to bring others to Jesus through our love.
May our Mother, Mary lead us closer to Jesus every day of our life!
A blessed, healthy and holy new year to everyone!
Deacon Mike