Reflection: The Baptism of the Lord

Today is the Feast Day of the Baptism of Our Lord. In the life of Christ, His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist marks the beginning of His public life. A dove descended upon Him representing the power of God and the Holy Spirit. "A voice came from the heavens, 'You are My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.'" Mark 1:11

John the Baptist knew his mission to proclaim the coming of the Lord had ended:

"So this joy of mine has been made complete; He must increase, I must decrease." John 3:29-30

Let us make it our mission to be messengers of JOY in the Lord and to humbly bring others to Him as John the Baptist did: Jesus must increase; we must decrease.

The Baptism of Jesus occurred when He was thirty years old and marked the beginning of His three year public ministry of teaching, healing, delivering and performing miracles.

"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went along doing good and healing all who were in the power of the devil, for God was with Him."  Acts 10:38

An anointing means an intimate union or covenant between God and one of His servants. God the Father speaks at this moment, to make clear who this Person is, His Divine Son, begotten from all eternity.

Through His Baptism, Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was without sin, took on Himself the sins of the world. He descended into the purifying waters and made the water holy to make us children of God and to take away our sins. His Baptism was to redeem us. Jesus went out to be baptized by John the Baptist, not for repentance, but to show us way to approach the Heavenly Father. The mystery of His Baptism is mercy.

"This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth." 1 John 5:6

After Jesus was baptized, He came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him. And a voice came from the heavens came, saying, "This is My Beloved Son; with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:16-17

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Sacrament of Baptism
Baptism seals the Christian with an indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. CCC 1272  Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life. CCC 1274

In the Baptism of Jesus, we see the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity. May the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with Our Blessed Mother Mary, heal and protect all those we pray for through this prayer ministry.