Jan.13,2013 - BAPTISM OF JESUS

Today, January 13, 2013 is the Solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke tells of John, the Baptist as the "voice in the wilderness" who prepared the way for Jesus and, therefore, is also known as the "Precursor of Christ." He announced, "The kingdom of God is at hand! Repent. Repent! I am not even fit to untie His sandals." He further explained that he was baptizing the people with the "waters of repentance" but that Jesus would baptize them with the Spirit and with fire.

Baptism cleanses us from Original Sin which our first parents, Adam and Eve committed - disobedience and lack of trust in God. They sinned because they abused the freedom that was given them. "All subsequent sin would be disobedience toward God and lack of trust in His goodness." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 397) Therefore, an utterance, a deed or a desire against God, truth, reason and right conscience can fall within the umbrella of "sin." 

How did the sin of Adam become the sin of his descendants? CCC para 403 and 404, explains that the whole human race is in Adam as "one body of one man, a unity of the human race." As the Council of Trent decreed, Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants, human nature deprived of their original holiness and justice. The fact that he has transmitted to us a sin - a "death of a soul " with which we are all born afflicted, the Catholic Church baptizes for the remission of sins even tiny infants who have not committed personal sin.

When Jesus approached John to be baptized, He did not have to undergo baptism of repentance. He was/is sinless, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. He wanted to be seen by people as man, like all men, who need God's mercy for the forgiveness of their sins. He wanted to show the people the value of the institution of Baptism and the forgiveness of sin (repentance) with Faith.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 977 states, "Our Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to Faith and Baptism. Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ who died for our sins and rose for our justification so that "we, too, might walk in newness of life."  

"The profession of faith while receiving Baptism cleanses us and the forgiveness of sins received then is so full and complete that there remained in us absolutely nothing left to efface. Yet, the grace  of Baptism delivers no one from all the weakness of human nature. " (CCC para 978)

Since the Baptism of Jesus "grafted" us to the Mystical Body of Christ, we were given the gift of "sonship." Each one of us becomes a "child of God" through baptism and therefore we all are "co-heirs" to the kingdom of God."

Also, the Baptism of Jesus was a manifestation of the Holy Trinity when the voice of God the Father declared, "This is my beloved Son on whom I am well pleased." The Third Person of God, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove on Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity. The declaration of God the Father which was heard by the people was an affirmation of what Jesus claimed to be then and now.

Since you and I have been baptized, therefore, each of us is a "child (son) of God." Do you think God can say of you that "He is well pleased?"