Baptism of the Lord

In going up out of the water, as St Gregory Nazianzen says, Jesus "sees the heaven opened which Adam had shut against himself and all his posterity" (Discourse 39 per il Battesimo del Signore, PG 36). The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit come down among human people and reveal to us their love that saves. If it is the Angels who bring the shepherds the announcement of the Savior's birth, and the star that conveys it to the Magi who came from the East, now it is the Father's voice that indicates the presence of his Son in the world to human beings and invites them to look to the Resurrection, to Christ's victory over sin and death.

- Pope Benedict XVI

Throughout the Christmas season we have seen(in the infancy narratives) the profound meanings found in the pivotal roles played by Mary, Joseph, Angels, Shepherds, Stars, Magi, Manger, Ox and ass, Elizabeth, the unborn John the Baptist, Zechariah and so forth, in the coming of the Messiah. Their words and actions pointed toward and proclaimed with such joy the Word made flesh.

However, in the Baptism of the Lord, we have something different for it is the Father in Heaven himself who proclaims the presence of His only begotten Son in the world and He goes on to invite us to look at the bigger picture for Jesus' whole life pointed toward the power of the Cross and the glory of His Resurrection. We must allow the significance of the Father's utterance "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."(Lk 3:22) to sink into our hearts.

To better appreciate the bigger picture that the Father invites us to look at, it would be good to consider our very own baptismal duties namely, Priestly, Prophetic, and Kingly. If you are interested, do check out the 3 articles on the baptismal duties so that we can continue to press on toward the ultimate goal which is God's upward calling in Christ Jesus! Just click the pictures below.

Happy Feastday of the Baptism of the Lord!