BAPTISM OF THE LORD. 10TH JAN 2021

 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, 10 january 2021

1. The baptism of the Lord reminds us of our own baptism

Let us reflect on the purpose and meaning of the baptism of the Lord, and in this light, reflect, re-know and renew the value of our baptism.

2. The Lord is baptized.

First of all, does He need baptism?

Certainly No. Because, for the Jews, baptism indicates that one recognizes and accepts one's sin, that one repents and asks for mercy to God, and that God forgives and purifies all sins

3. However, Jesus is the Son of God and without sin. Therefore no need for forgiveness and cleaning

4. Still why?

The baptism of Jesus has a purpose and a deeper reason. It is in accord with the divine plan of salvation

Yes. Even if sinless, Jesus becomes one of us, the sinful, in need of being saved,

Jesus, even if purely clean, becomes one of us, the impure ones, in need of being clean,

Jesus, even if fully intact, becomes one of us, the broken ones, in the need to be healed,

Jesus, even if totally one with the Father, becomes one of us, the alienated and separated from God, in need of being reconciled and reunited,

Jesus, even if in complete pleasure with God, becomes one of us, the displeasing to God, in need of being pleased.

5. Thus Jesus becomes the Lamb of God who bears our sins upon himself, that is in our place, and supports our burdens because of us.

Thus He lifts us from our burdens, frees us from our misery and our weaknesses, and strengthens us with the power and glory of God

6. Therefore the baptism of Jesus is not just a ritual or a traditional ceremony

It points towards our vocation, our consecration, and our salvation

In his baptism, Jesus officially and consciously begins the divine plan of salvation

At the point of his baptism, Jesus consecrates himself and dedicates himself to the mission of freeing us from the chains of evil, and of beautifying ourselves with the kingdom of grace.

It is for this reason, Jesus is anointed by the Spirit, and attested by the Father himself

7. This is the meaning and the goal of the baptism of Jesus, and from this also our baptism derives its value and direction

Our baptism manifests that we belong to God, and not to Satan,

that we are generated by God himself as his children,

that we are sealed like his peoples chosen by the seal of baptism,

that we become members of one and the same divine family as sisters and brothers,

that we share the same life as Christ,

that we are anointed by the power and holiness of the Holy Spirit,

that we are consecrated to being loyal and dedicated to God alone

8. Thus, every baptized person must experience, nurture, radiate and increase

Grace and not sin, virtue and not vice, the good and not the evil, holiness not impurity, the divine power and not human frailty, the light and not the darkness, the consecration and not the execration, unity not disunity, communion with God and not separation from God, the closeness with God and not the distance, abandonment to God and not self-glory, reconciliation not retaliation, humility not arrogance, pleasure to God and not displeasing God, to bear witness to love for the values of Christ and not to scandalize, to resemble Christ, and do not neglect.

9. Whether this is happening? How much are we true and faithful to our baptismal dedication?