The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

In the Gospel passage for today’s feast, we have the voice of the Father proclaiming that in his beloved Son Jesus there is now a new creation.  This Good News is not only heard by the onlookers on the bank of the Jordan but by us as well.

The river Jordan was very significant in the history of Israel.  The wandering tribes that fled slavery in Egypt and who wandered through the wilderness for so many years, crossed the Jordan to take possession of their promised land. They had been prepared through their arduous journey to become a holy people particularly God’s own.

It was no wonder then that John’s ministry of baptism took place at the Jordan for he was calling his people back to the holiness that was once theirs. It was by providence that the sinless Messiah would begin his ministry to Israel on Jordan’s banks as well.

Through our baptism, we too are the beloved of God in whom the Father is well pleased. We are sinful, yes, but not abandoned or forgotten.  We have been left with the gift of the Holy Spirit who continues to fashion us anew into a priestly people. Not by our good works has the gift of the abiding Advocate been given, but simply because we are the work of God’s own hands; we are a new creation in Christ.