BAPTISM OF THE LORD
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Not many days ago, we celebrated the birth of Jesus in the cave of Bethlehem, and we saw that Jesus manifested himself to the Jews, and on the day of the Epiphany, to the Gentiles. It came to the world to save all men.

Today we see him, already an adult, about thirty years old, in the Jordan River. We have skipped the flight into Egypt, when his parents found him in the Temple of Jerusalem, the death of Saint Joseph, and the thirty years that lived in Nazareth, working as a carpenter and leading a normal family life. We could also add the goodbye of Jesus with its mother Mary.

Goodbye of Jesus and his mother Mary, when beginning the public life

We can easily imagine the goodbye of the mother and the son. She knew that Jesus was starting his public life and that a sword would pierce her soul, as Simeon had predicted to her the day of her purification. Mary would be sad, but she would experience consolation by thinking that it was the will of God and accepting it.

Jesus begins his public life with baptism. Today we see Jesus, already adult, presenting himself with all humility and simplicity to be baptized. In my opinion, this is one of the nicest qualities of Jesus: his simplicity.

Isaiah, the prophet, in the first reading, has presented Jesus to us as the servant of God: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching (Is 42:1-4).

This simplicity of the Lord is admirable: he does not cry out, he does not make his voice heard...; for this reason, he will be able to say that he is meek and humble of heart.

Saint Paul says of Jesus: Though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness (Fl 2,6-7). When Jesus is baptized, there are two visual signs and a third sign which is a voice interpreting the first two.

First visual sign:

Jesus saw be the sky being torn open: On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open (Mk 1:10)

Second sign:

The Holy Spirit came down upon Him in a visible form: and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him (Mk 1:10). In the Bible, the coming of the Spirit of God indicates the mission, the charisma, and the destiny to the service of the people, in the name, and as an instrument, of God.

Third sign:

The Father manifests who Jesus is: And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Mk 1:11).

On Jesus being baptized, the heavens are torn open and we contemplate the mystery of the Trinity. The Father, who says to us that this most beloved Son, whom we have to listen; the Holy Spirit, manifested in the form of a dove; and the Son, who receives the waters of baptism from the hands of John the Baptist.

With baptism in the River Jordan, the mission of Jesus is inaugurated and his personality of Son of God is affirmed.

OUR BAPTISM

The baptism of Jesus leads us to briefly talk about our baptism.

Why do we baptize?

Because it is the will of the Lord.

Before going up to heaven, Jesus said: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age" (Mt 28:19-20).

EFFECTS OF BAPTISM

Baptism pardons our original sin and our personal sins.

Baptism in the Catholic Church, speaks to us of the Grace of the gift of God, and pardons our original sin as well as our personal sins. Saint Peter said to those who were listening to him: Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit (Ac 2:38).

Baptism makes us God’s adopted children and heirs of Heaven. Saint Paul says to the Galatians: So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God (Ga 4:7).

Baptism makes us temples of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul writes to the Christians in Corinth: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you? (1 Cor 6:19).

Baptism makes us members of the Church. Baptisms also makes us members of the body of Christ, which is the Church: For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit (1 Cor 12:13). All of us who are baptized, form the Body of Christ, which is the Church of Jesus Christ. We are all responsible for it, not only the Pope or the bishops, but all the baptized. We have to love our Church as our mother who has begotten us to the life of faith.

By baptism we participated in the priesthood of Christ. Saint Peter says: And, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1Pe 2:5).

Baptism imprints a character. Baptism imprints an indelible spiritual sign for ever, which we call character, and for this reason baptism cannot be repeated.

The Christian is a person consecrated to God, whom he is called to worship, freely, with all his heart and soul.

Finally, as a pastor, I want to remind you that the Church wants the newborn to be baptized within a few weeks of their birth and not later.

Let us be thankful to the Lord for the gift of Baptism and let us live like Jesus did: spending our life on earth loving God and our brothers and sisters, fulfilling the commandment of love, that Jesus has given us, and doing whatever is right.

Have a good Sunday and a good week.

Baptism’s ceremony

       Greetings.

       Sign of the Cross.

       Word of God.

       Liberation from sin. Exorcism.

       Unction with the oil Chatecumens.

       Baptismal promises. Renunciation to sin and profession of faith.

       Baptism. Water poured on the child’s head.

       Unction Holy Chrism oil.

       Lighting of the baptismal candle.

       white dress.

       Solemn blessing of the mother, the father and the assistants.

       Conclusion and final blessing.