The Baptism of Jesus

John the Baptist sees Jesus walking toward him and says, “Look: there is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

I’m still reeling from the celebration of Christmas: recalling the Advent preparations, Gabriel, shepherds, sheep, wise men, Simeon and Anna, the Holy Innocents…and the Church is already taking us to Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan.

I do not doubt that John and Jesus knew each other: their mothers were related; they were born six months apart, and they were both announced by Gabriel.  I don’t think these circumstances were unknown to them.  I’ll bet that Zachariah had a hand in teaching them both.  And yet, as they spoke with each other, they respectfully kept to God’s plan, which was gradually, gently, and daily being revealed to them—and through them to the world.

Today, the Church gives us the choice of four epistles, two psalms, and one gospel, and I chose the Alleluia verse for this transition from Christmas to Jesus’ public ministry.  Soon, Mary will tell Jesus to change water into wine, and in 46 days, we receive ashes… and join the journey.

Let us have a theme this year that is quiet and personal to us.  We don’t need to correct Pharisees, so let us be Jesus loving the people around us, embracing what Jesus did walking the earth, demonstrating and attempting to show the world through prayer and action how Jesus embraces twenty centuries of change, of growth, and of seeing with new eyes.

Let us pray

Pour forth, we beseech thee, Oh Lord, thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the messenger of God is revealed, be joined in his Passion and Cross, and also embrace the glory of his Resurrection.