Reflection/Homily: Feast of the Baptism of our Lord Year C (January 13 2013)

Theme: The Significance of Christ’s Baptism

Today’s feast, the Baptism of our Lord was originally one of the three Gospel events marked by the feast of Epiphany. In the Western Church, it was later overshadowed by the visit of the Magi before Pope Pius XII in 1955 instituted it as a separate liturgical commemoration of Christ’s baptism. The Baptism of Christ is a great point of Theophany because in it the mystery of the Blessed Trinity which is the highest mystery of the Church is made manifest.

The Gospel reading (Luke 3:15-16.21-22) confirms the manifestation of the Blessed Trinity at the Baptism of Jesus. God the Father is revealed in the Voice which confirmed the Sonship of Jesus, God the Son is revealed in Jesus who was baptized and God the Holy Spirit is revealed in the Dove which descended on the Son. This manifestation of the Trinity thus becomes the origin and destination of our Christian worship because all our prayers begin and end in the name of the Blessed Trinity.

Jesus received John’s baptism and in the process instituted a higher form of baptism which according to John is with “fire and the Holy Spirit”. John’s baptism is the foundation of Christ’s baptism and in the later, Christ instituted a baptism which is not just a mere religious practice but also a sacrament. He brought the Trinitarian dimension to baptism and thus made baptism a communion with God and the Church. John’s baptism is for repentance but Christ’s baptism is more than that. It is a source of cleansing and incorporation into the family of God.

Please Click Here to Read more » http://www.uwakwereflections.com/2013/01/reflectionhomily-feast-of-baptism-of.html