Reflection for Monday January 9, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Matthew 3:13-17

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:

Why was there a need for Jesus to be baptized considering that he is God the Son? Jesus went through his own baptism as an act of solidarity with us sinful humanity.    

Jesus’ Baptism is an expression of the Lord’s great desire to be one with us. The Lord could have avoided baptism but he went through it also as an expression of his immense love for us. Love that culminated in the Lord’s death on the cross at Calvary. 

Having been baptized too and being of age already we partake of Jesus’ mission to spread the good news of the faith, that’s why we have to live our faith. We have to bring people to God, we have to do acts of mercy and compassion and we have to follow and live the life of the Lord. The Lord’s life of self-sacrifice, life of love and forgiveness and the like. 

By celebrating the Baptism of Jesus today we don’t only recall and remember Jesus baptism. We are also reminded that we have our very own baptismal mission which we have to live and fulfill. 

Are we able to live and fulfill our own Baptismal mission? - Marino J. Dasmarinas