This feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a milestone in the life of Christ and our Christian story. As an adult, Jesus lost none of that child-like trust in the Father. He who was like us in all things but sin, having taken on himself the weight of human sin, humbled Himself to be baptized. He did not need to do this, but, like everything else He did and does, He did it out of love for us and for the Father.
Humility draws God: the Holy Spirit descends on Him in the form of a dove and the Father is well pleased. The Trinity manifests itself. What an extraordinary moment!
“Today let us do honor to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist”*
* (From a Sermon by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, bishop; Second Reading, Office of Readings for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Liturgy of the Hours).
Art: Pietro Perugino: Cappella Sistina (Battesimo di Cristo “Baptism of Christ”); ca 1481-83; Cat. no. 13 in Vittoria Garibaldi: Perugino. Catalogo completo. Octavo, Firenze 2000, ISBN 88-8030-091-1; PD-US; Wikimedia Commons.
About Liz Estler
Editor, Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction. Liz holds a Master of Arts in Ministry Degree (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts), Liturgy Certificate (Boston Archdiocese), and a BS degree in Biology and Spanish (Nebraska Wesleyan University – Lincoln). She has served as hospital chaplain associate, sacristan, translator and in other parish ministries. She was a regular columnist for a military newspaper in Europe and has been published in a professional journal. She once waded in the Trevi Fountain!
