Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord
*†ç John's baptism is the baptism of repentance, the cleansing of our sins by the Power of God when it is combined with true contrition from man - "There was no greater man who lived than John", said Jesus. But when Jesus Himself asks John for His own Baptism, He divinely completes the contrition of men brought about by John's call for repentance, when the Divine presence of the Father is revealed upon Him. This is the moment when we get to hear the tender loving Words of our adoption from God the Father to His baptized children "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22).
Jesus' baptism also reveals how we receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit - "the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form, as a dove" (Luke 3:22) For the first time in the history of the world, the Holy Trinity is revealed, seen and heard by all present at Jesus's Baptism, when John's disciples - contrite men and women seeking repentance and cleansing from the fallenness they are willing to recognize and seek to heal from - see and hear what we all long to hear and see - the divine Words of Love from above, restoring us as beloved children of Our father in Heaven. Amen.
But receiving Baptism, the cleansing of sins that removes our blinders and enables us to receive the Holy Spirit is just our first baby step as a reborn child of Heaven. We are not to keep this gift for ourselves but share it. In the very last verses of Matthew's gospel, Jesus entrusts this Gift to His disciples in His last Words - what we call His "Great Commission" - before ascending to Heaven 40 days after His Resurrection.
He calls the baptized to
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" in the last verse of Matthew's Gospel 28:20.
Today's Gospel reading reminds us of what John the Baptist prophesied about Jesus's Baptism " He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire", as Luke reports in His Gospel 3:16. Let's read it with care and remember all what baptism means to us - our true birth in Christ.
Matthew28:19-20 - The Great Commission19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,2 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Luke 3: 5 - 16, 21 - 2215As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,16John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."
The man who burns with the fire of divine love is a son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and wherever he goes, he enkindles that flame; he desires and works with all his strength to inflame all men with the fire of God's love. Nothing deters him: he rejoices in poverty; he labours strenuously; he welcomes hardships; he laughs off false accusations; he rejoices in anguish. He thinks only of how he might follow Jesus Christ and imitate him by his prayers, his labours, his sufferings, and by caring always and only for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
-- St Anthony Mary Claret