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The Baptism of the Lord Sunday Year C - 9/1/2022 - Gospel:  Lk 3: 15-16. 21-22
Reborn In Christ
John felt uneasy to baptise Jesus when He made such a request. However, Jesus insisted John do it and John obeyed. Through Jesus' baptism, God the Father revealed His true identity, that He was God's only Beloved Son. This was the very first time, that all three Persons of God appeared at Jesus' baptism. Each appeared in a different, and in a mysterious form. No one saw the first Person of God, the Father, but only heard His voice which came from on high announcing, 'You are my Son, the Beloved, my favour rests on you' Lk 3,22.

Mary received God's favour, she had a mission to do, becoming the Mother of Jesus. God's favour rested on Jesus, this implied Jesus had a mission to carry out, bringing the good news of salvation to mankind. Receiving God's favour means that one is no longer live for oneself, but for God. S/he is totally united to God, doing God's will, regardless of the cost. The third Person of God, the Holy spirit, Who said not a single word, but simply presented Himself in bodily shape, 'The Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily shape, like a dove' Lk 3,22.

The Holy Spirit came to Him straightaway at His baptism; unlike Jesus, we receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit, years later, at another ceremony. Jesus Himself, the second Person of God, before returning to the Father, He told His disciples to baptise the people in the name of the Trinity, and that becomes the universal, official baptismal formula in the Catholic Church. We are baptised in the three Persons of God:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt 28,19).

The Sacrament of the Baptism is not just celebrating a membership of the Church. It is the very first step of the Initial Sacraments, which consists of three Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Through baptism, the baptised person becomes a member, a child of God, and an heir of God's kingdom. It is the beginning of the process of becoming reborn in Christ.

Jesus, a sinless person, Who had no need of baptism, but for some reason, He chose to be baptised by John. He received John's baptism, first to identify Himself with each one of us. In identifying with each one of us, He an innocent, chose to live amongst sinners. He took our sins upon Himself, and gave meaning to our suffering. He chose to carry the cross for us, and died in our place.

Second, as God's only Beloved Son, Jesus in His unconditional love, shared His Divine Life for those who were baptised in God's Holy Name. Sharing God's Divine Love means to live in God's kingdom after we have finished our earthly journey.

Third, Jesus confirmed John's teaching by receiving John's baptism. John said: I baptised you with water, but the One who came after me will baptised you with Spirit and Fire' Lk 3,16. We are now baptised with both water, and God's purifying Divine Fire Love. It is the combination of the two teachings on baptism: Jesus and John the Baptist. Water represented John's baptism as a sign of repentance. Spirit and Fire represented the baptism of Jesus. We are reborn of water and the Spirit.

Baptism ceremony is a public celebration, because through baptism we are incorporated into God's Church, and become brother/ sister in Christ. This communal dimension implies we, too, follow Jesus' path to give glory to God and to provide services for others in God's Holy Name.
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