Last week we celebrated the Epiphany of the Lord; when Christ was made known to the nations. This week we celebrate the the Baptism of the Lord. Today Christ too is made know to the nations. We hear this in the closing line from today’s Gospel, “And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” We see Christ not only was born on Christmas morning, but made himself known to us in many ways, especially as the wise men came in His own Baptism and in His self manifestation at the wedding of Cana.
We remember that Christ was baptized. Perhaps it is a memory of our own baptism, or the baptism or a child, or our godchild, or of someone who is dear to us. The Sacraments are a very special way for us to encounter Christ in a very special way. In Baptism, we join the Body of Christ and the temple of Holy Spirit. We are His children and heirs of God. We are in communion with faith and the Church, and the Eucharist. We share in the Christ Paschal Mystery from death to life.
The baptism of Jesus reminds us that we become the missionaries to the society in which we live. We become the witness to Christ by loving God and neighbor. The Church calls for us to serve the poor and to bring the light of the Gospel to others. These bring us into communion with the Church. We believe in one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, living a perfect communion of love. Our fidelity to Baptism’s grace draws us more and more into that divine communion of love. Our baptism is a gift to all humanity. Our baptism commits each and all of us to help others to know the great Divine love in the Lord Jesus Christ.