Gospel: Matthew
3:13-17
Jesus
came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to
prevent him, saying, "I need to be
baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Jesus said to him in
reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
righteousness." Then he allowed him. After
Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold,the heavens were
opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming
upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am
well pleased."
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Reflection:
If you
are to be asked, when were you baptized? You may not be able to answer
immediately because you need to get first your Baptismal certificate, that is
if you still have kept a copy of your Baptismal certificate. What if you don’t
have it anymore?
Unlike
our birthday which we never fail to remember each year. We tend to forget our
Baptismal day which is far more important than our birthdays. In baptism we are
born again thru water and the Holy Spirit and we share in the mission of Jesus,
we also officially become a member of the Catholic Church. As baptized
Christians it is also our mission to spread with Humility the teachings of
Jesus and the universal Church.
In the
Gospel, Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan. John tried to prevent
him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to
me?" Indeed John was so awed that he would be baptizing his master, the
one whom he announced as the savior.
Why be
baptized by an ordinary mortal like John, why not simply forgo baptism and go
directly with His mission? Jesus insisted to be baptized by John because it was
the signpost of the commencement of His mission. Before His baptism by john
Jesus was an ordinary mortal just like us.
But after
His baptism Jesus’ oneness with God was immediately
affirmed by the Holy Spirit. And was immediately reinforced by the voice of God
who said: "This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17)."
After His
baptism Jesus officially started his three years public ministry. He spread the
Good news of salvation, he cured the sick, He gave hope, He fed the hungry and
so forth. But at the end He suffered and did the supreme sacrifice of giving
His life for our salvation.
As baptized Catholics, we are also called to follow Jesus and His baptismal mission. Today
is an appropriate time for us to reflect and ask ourselves: Have I been
faithful to my baptismal mission? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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