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THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

 

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD


➡️ Feasts, Solemnities, and Liturgical Seasons

While John was still preaching repentance and baptising his followers, Jesus Himself came to him one day to be baptised. St Matthew tells us that John was reluctant to do so. ‘It is I,’ he said, ‘who ought to be baptised by you, and dost thou come to me?’ (Matthew 3:14). Jesus insisted, ‘Let it be so now, for so it becomes us to fulfil all justice’ (Matthew 3:15). When Jesus had been baptised the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove and the voice of God the Father came from heaven, ‘Thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased’ (Luke 3:22).

A VERY SIGNIFICANT MOMENT

This is a significant moment in the history of Jesus. It is clear from the words of John that Jesus had no personal need to receive the baptism of John. Certainly His desire to be baptised by John could be taken as a manifestation of His intention, as a pious Israelite, to dedicate Himself wholly to the service of God even beyond the ordinary requirements of the Mosaic Law. But the aftermath of the baptism shows us that something more than this was involved in the baptism of Jesus.

THE SACRAMENT: BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT

Later on Jesus will command that those who believe in Him be baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now these same three mysterious personages appear here at the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Spirit appears bodily in the form of a dove. The Father speaks from heaven and He addresses Jesus as His beloved Son. It is possible that God is here instituting the Sacrament of Baptism. John has already said that Jesus will baptise men, not just with water but with the Holy Spirit. How fitting, then, that He Who is to give the Holy Spirit to men should here be seen visibly to receive the Spirit or to be filled with the Spirit.

THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY

Moreover, this manifestation of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit at the baptism of Jesus seems to mark the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus Himself. Jesus is seen to receive or to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. God speaks of Him as His well-beloved Son, thereby approving His subsequent ministry.

And, after this manifestation of divine approval, Jesus is led into the desert by the Spirit for forty days, there to wrestle with the devil, the enemy of God and of men. The temptation of Jesus by the devil shows that the evil spirit is already disturbed by the appearance of Jesus. He believes himself threatened by his designs to destroy men and he would try this new adversary to determine his strength. Even though the temptation of Jesus by the devil took place in secret, it seems to be a fitting symbol of the future triumph of Jesus over the devil in the struggle for the salvation of men. From that point of view it reinforces the idea that the baptism of Jesus by John and the divine manifestation following it mark the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus, the divine commission or sanction for Jesus to begin the public fulfilment of His role in the divine plan of salvation.

(Martin J. Healy S.T.D., 1959)

⬅️ Marian Feast Days

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