The Baptism of the Lord
Amongst all those baptized by John, and they were many, we have only the story of Jesus. With all the others, John was calling them to be plunged into the waters of the Jordan as a sign of their repentance. Yet, with Jesus, John says that Jesus should baptize him, and that indeed Jesus will baptize, not simply with water, but with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, going into the waters of the Jordan, takes our humanity into those waters to teach us to seek repentance. Jesus, going into the waters of the Jordan, brings divinity to touch the water to prepare it to be a means of His grace. Jesus, coming out of the waters hears with human ears the voice of God who loves Him and calls Him Son, so that He might open our ears to God’s love which chooses to transform us into adopted sons and daughters of God.
Today, let us ask if we are willing to let Jesus come as close to us as He did to John. Are we willing to let Christ bring not only the grace of repentance, but the grace of true forgiveness and the grace truly to become children of Our Heavenly Father? Let us pray to live out these graces which Jesus has showered upon us in the baptism which He has given.