The Baptism of the Lord is for me, an odd celebration. Why would Jesus need Baptism? He’s the Son of the Father! This odd outlook is really a misunderstanding of Baptism in general. It’s true you and I needed Baptism because of the existence of Original Sin by our nature. But Baptisms’ removal of Original Sin is not it’s only effect.

For Christ, His Baptism is the beginning of his ministry, exposing to those present who He was; the Son of the Father, united to Him through the Holy Spirit, and the fulfillment of the Father’s promise to restore Israel through the Messiah.

We need to embrace these elements in our own Baptism. Through Baptism we share in Christ’s life and mission. We too become sons and daughters of the Father. The Holy Spirit is poured into us, introducing us into the Body of Christ, the Church.

And so we now continue Christ’s ministry as Messiah. That is to announce through our lives that the blind see, the deaf hear and the lame walk! And that we are the sons and daughters of the Father and all can be if they accept and use the gifts of the Spirit through Baptism.

May God bless us and may Mary keep us always in His love!

Fr Corey