Mark 1:4-11
4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
"You are my beloved in whom I am well pleased"
The Baptismal Site of Jesus on the Jordan side of the river, thought by archaeologists to be the very spot.
The Holy Spirit is coming down upon Him like a dove, the heavens open and a voice coming out of Heaven says, "You are my dear-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" [v. 10-11].
The early Church celebrated Christmas and Jesus' Baptism on the same day. This was known as Theophany or Epiphany Day, which means the Day of the Appearance or Divine Manifestation. The Eastern Churches kept this same tradition, while the Western Churches opted for two different dates, one for Christmas and the other for Jesus' Baptism.
The Eastern Churches celebrate the Divine Manifestation of the Holy Trinity together with Jesus' Baptism, while the Western Churches celebrate Jesus' Baptism with the visit of the magi, worshiping and offering their presents to the newborn King. Both celebrations complete one another.
We usually celebrate the Baptism of the Lord as the beginning of His Ministry on earth. We also need to remember our own baptism, reflecting upon how faithful we are to the promises of this divine gift that we have received. Hopefully, we are aware of our promises:
To fight and overcome evil by the grace of the Holy spirit;
That we are committed to live as baptized "into" Christ and have put on the family likeness of Christ " [Galatians 3:26];
That we are Temples of the Holy Spirit - According to St. Paul, "You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit." [1 Corinthians 3:16];
That we are the new men and women "called to look upon ourselves as dead to the appeal and power of sin but alive and sensitive to the call of God through Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:13].
Can we say with St. Paul, "my present life is not of the old, but the living Christ within me" [Galatians 2:20]?
Today, we are called to consider how true we are as Christians who live the Gospel as "the Way, the Truth and the Life" [John 14:6].
Christmas, the heavenly choir singing the Gloria, the magi, and His Baptism are to be celebrated together with the Holy Communion that preserves us as Temples of the Holy Spirit. "Don't allow yourself to be empowered with evil. Take offense—-overpower evil with good" [Romans 12:21]. Do I live in God's love and humility, expecting His voice to say, "You are my beloved daughter or son, in whom I am pleased?"