Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord

My Dear Parishioners,
 
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord. The Church recalls Our Lord's second manifestation or epiphany which occurred on the occasion of His baptism in the Jordan.
 
The baptism of Jesus is reported in each of the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Clearly, it was an event of great significance for Jesus and for the early Christian community. The Evangelists Mark and Luke report the story from Jesus' perspective; the voice from heaven is addressed to Jesus. Compare this to Matthew's Gospel in which the voice from heaven speaks to everyone. In Luke, however, the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus during his time of prayer after his baptism. Through his Gospel, Luke will show Jesus to be a person of prayer who withdraws from the crowds and his disciples to pray to his Father.
 
We need to know that Jesus did not need the baptism of John.  John was baptizing as a call for repentance.  Jesus had no need to repent.
 
“ The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Already he is anticipating the “ baptism” of his bloody death. Already he is coming to “ fulfill all righteousness,” that is, he is submitting himself entirely to his Father’s will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to “ rest on him.” Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism “ the heavens were opened”—the heavens that Adam’s sin had closed—and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.” (CCC 536)
 
In His Baptism, the Lord openly accepted His mission to redeem mankind through His suffering. Let us recommit ourselves to our mission that the Lord gave to us at our own baptisms: To live and die for Jesus who lived and died for us.
 
God Bless,
Fr. Pawel