Beloved in Christ,
"After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized...." (Lk 3:21). In today's feast, we celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the baptism at the River Jordan. Why would Jesus need baptism? This is the first question that came to mind when reading about Jesus' baptism. Jesus has not sinned. The baptism conducted by John is not sacramental as we have it today; it is a sign of cleansing and purification according to the Old Law. But even then, Jesus did not have a personal sin that needed cleansing. Jesus went under the requirement of the Law for our sake and was an example to us to fulfill the demands of the Law. He chose to submit himself to the Law's requirement and instructed us to obey God's Law. Also, by requesting baptism, Jesus, according to St. Augustine, intends to "freely proclaim through his humility what for us was to be a necessity." We need baptism because it is the first step towards our salvation (See 1 Pet 3:21).
Jesus prepares us for the Sacrament of Baptism by his baptism, which he will require as the doorway to the journey to paradise. The necessity of baptism is indicated when he commanded baptism in the power of the Holy Trinity at his Ascension (Mt 28:13). In the sacrament of baptism, Jesus himself is at work in us as He, the Father and the Holy Spirit come to make a home in us and make us sons and daughters of God. As John says, so it is; Jesus' baptism is done in power and effects a supernatural change to our soul. "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Lk 3:16).
The day of our baptism should be the most cherished one. On that day, our sins, original or actual, are forgiven, and we not only become sons and daughters of God by adoption, but we also receive faith and grace. Without these gifts, our longings and desires are never going to be fulfilled. Through the gifts of baptism, we receive help to make our efforts fruitful. By the grace of baptism, God makes our lives bear the fruits of a heavenly dimension. God healed our sin-soiled nature with this healing sacrament. What a great gift we receive in baptism! And how unaware are we of what happened to us at such a mystery-filled moment of baptism? Our mouths will be filled with praise and thanks only if we know what happened to our souls at our baptism.
St Leo the Great famously says of baptism in a Christmas homily: "Thanks to the Sacrament of Baptism you have been turned into a temple of the Holy Spirit. Don't let it happen that you drive away so noble a guest by your evil deeds, or ever again submit to the power of the demon: for a price you were bought with is the Blood of Christ." May we heed St. Leo's exhortation. Let us be thankful to God for the gift of our baptism. Let us begin to apprehend the meaning and implications of our baptism. Let us recover the faith and grace of this sacrament if we have allowed sin or indifference to the life of faith to make us lose them. Let us turn to the Lord to help those who have become passive or dormant in exercising their baptismal faith and grace. We know of so many in our families and parish. In particular, to our parish family, let us raise prayers of praise and thanks to God for all the five children who received the sacrament of baptism from our baptismal fount in 2024.
After the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we come to the end of the Christmas season, and Ordinary Time begins on Monday, 13 January. Let's continue with the daily business of seeking and embracing life in Christ. Don't forget that our first parish monthly Adoration of the Year is on Monday, 13 January, at 6 p.m.
In Christ,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
"After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized...." (Lk 3:21). In today's feast, we celebrate the baptism of Jesus by John the baptism at the River Jordan. Why would Jesus need baptism? This is the first question that came to mind when reading about Jesus' baptism. Jesus has not sinned. The baptism conducted by John is not sacramental as we have it today; it is a sign of cleansing and purification according to the Old Law. But even then, Jesus did not have a personal sin that needed cleansing. Jesus went under the requirement of the Law for our sake and was an example to us to fulfill the demands of the Law. He chose to submit himself to the Law's requirement and instructed us to obey God's Law. Also, by requesting baptism, Jesus, according to St. Augustine, intends to "freely proclaim through his humility what for us was to be a necessity." We need baptism because it is the first step towards our salvation (See 1 Pet 3:21).
Jesus prepares us for the Sacrament of Baptism by his baptism, which he will require as the doorway to the journey to paradise. The necessity of baptism is indicated when he commanded baptism in the power of the Holy Trinity at his Ascension (Mt 28:13). In the sacrament of baptism, Jesus himself is at work in us as He, the Father and the Holy Spirit come to make a home in us and make us sons and daughters of God. As John says, so it is; Jesus' baptism is done in power and effects a supernatural change to our soul. "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Lk 3:16).
The day of our baptism should be the most cherished one. On that day, our sins, original or actual, are forgiven, and we not only become sons and daughters of God by adoption, but we also receive faith and grace. Without these gifts, our longings and desires are never going to be fulfilled. Through the gifts of baptism, we receive help to make our efforts fruitful. By the grace of baptism, God makes our lives bear the fruits of a heavenly dimension. God healed our sin-soiled nature with this healing sacrament. What a great gift we receive in baptism! And how unaware are we of what happened to us at such a mystery-filled moment of baptism? Our mouths will be filled with praise and thanks only if we know what happened to our souls at our baptism.
St Leo the Great famously says of baptism in a Christmas homily: "Thanks to the Sacrament of Baptism you have been turned into a temple of the Holy Spirit. Don't let it happen that you drive away so noble a guest by your evil deeds, or ever again submit to the power of the demon: for a price you were bought with is the Blood of Christ." May we heed St. Leo's exhortation. Let us be thankful to God for the gift of our baptism. Let us begin to apprehend the meaning and implications of our baptism. Let us recover the faith and grace of this sacrament if we have allowed sin or indifference to the life of faith to make us lose them. Let us turn to the Lord to help those who have become passive or dormant in exercising their baptismal faith and grace. We know of so many in our families and parish. In particular, to our parish family, let us raise prayers of praise and thanks to God for all the five children who received the sacrament of baptism from our baptismal fount in 2024.
After the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we come to the end of the Christmas season, and Ordinary Time begins on Monday, 13 January. Let's continue with the daily business of seeking and embracing life in Christ. Don't forget that our first parish monthly Adoration of the Year is on Monday, 13 January, at 6 p.m.
In Christ,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
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