YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED
⏰THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
📖Isa 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30 (R.v.1); Tit 2:11-14, 3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
🎤”YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON; WITH YOU I AM WELL PLEASED” (Luke 3:22)
Have you been paying attention to the series of liturgical events marking this season of Christmas? You might have noticed the different ways God has been making efforts to reveal himself to us through Jesus Christ.
On Christmas day, he sent the angels to reveal the birth of his Son to the Jews. Last Sunday, at the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, he sent the star to reveal the same message to the gentiles. Today, at the Baptism of the Lord, he confirms that message himself by declaring to and about Jesus, “You are my beloved son…” (Luke 3:22).
By declaring Jesus his son, God confirms that Jesus shares the same essence with him. That means, what he is, Jesus is also. It goes on to mean that Jesus is the revealed image of God.
The First Reading for today’s liturgy tells us of the love which prompted God to make a promise to his people who were suffering in exile – that he would send them a liberator. That promise finds its fulfilment in Jesus as the voice from heaven bore witness to in the Gospel.
Truly, Jesus worked and died for that singular purpose of liberating us from captivity. St. Paul informs us in the Second Reading that through him, we received the grace to reject worldly passions and embrace the life of grace which God offers us.
We must note also that in the Baptism of Jesus that we celebrate today, we are invited to reflect on our own baptism and baptismal promises. As our baptism transforms us into another Christ, we are called also, to show the merciful image of God to the suffering world. We can do that efficiently by reflecting on and living out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Are you ready to join Jesus in this project of spreading God’s mercy to the world?
Pay attention to these physical acts that would translate into deep spiritual call for action. By the end of today, the crib which has been placed in a strategic place in the Church since the Christmas night will now be removed. It is expected that by now, we would have built him a good home in our hearts. He needs to reach the world through you. Will you give him the chance?
By tomorrow, we resume fully the ordinary time of the year. There is actually nothing ordinary about this ordinary time of the year. It is so called because of the orderly way it is arranged in 34 weeks. At this time, the Green colour returns for our liturgical celebrations. Green is a sign of rich vegetation. Hence, through that, we are invited to build ourselves up so as to bear good fruits in abundance.
We pray that the merciful love of God may abide in us at all times, and through us reach out to all the faces that desire it in our world. Amen.
Have a joyful Sunday. Peace be with you.
