Baptism of the Lord (January 9, 2022)

“Baptism” means washing, and John the Baptist made it a symbolic rite of moral purification. But why was Jesus baptized if He had no need for moral purification?
Most ancient writers say that by being baptized, Jesus not only wanted to be a sign of hope for the people, but wanted to sanctify the waters of baptism. Thus, because contact with Christ purifies, let us keep in touch with Him through prayer and the sacraments.
John the Baptist could have taken advantage of the adulation of the crowd to attract the attention to himself. Instead, he directed their attention to Christ and belittled his own stature: “One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal-strap I am not worthy to loose”. On another occasion, he would refer to Our Lord and himself – “He must increase, I must decrease”.
This should be like a rule of life for us. We need to be humble so that the grace of God can transform us. Many times, true greatness is hidden behind the virtue of humility, as it was in the case of St. John the Baptist and most of all, our Blessed Mother Mary.

That the Christian community, made one by our common baptism, may always welcome the unborn and all who are vulnerable, we pray to the Lord…