This Is My Beloved Son.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which brings the Christmas season to an end and opens the door to Jesus’ public ministry.
At the River Jordan, Jesus is revealed not only as the Messiah, but as the beloved Son of the Father.
1. Jesus Comes to Be Baptized
In the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist is surprised. He tries to stop Jesus, saying:
“I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”
John knows that Jesus is sinless. Yet Jesus insists:
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Jesus chooses humility.
He steps into the waters with sinners, not because He needs cleansing, but because He has come to save.
👉 This tells us something very important:
Jesus identifies fully with humanity in order to redeem it.
2. The Opening of Heaven
As Jesus comes out of the water, something remarkable happens:
- The heavens are opened
- The Spirit descends like a dove
- The Father’s voice is heard
This is a powerful moment of revelation.
👉 God is not distant.
👉 Heaven is opened because Jesus has come.
3. The Revelation of the Trinity
In this single moment, we see the Holy Trinity clearly revealed:
- The Son stands in the Jordan
- The Spirit descends upon Him
The Father proclaims:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
This confirms Jesus’ identity and mission before He performs any miracle or preaches any sermon.
👉 Before Jesus does anything, He is affirmed.
This reminds us that God’s love comes before our actions.
4. What This Means for Our Baptism
This feast invites us to reflect on our own baptism.
Through baptism:
- we become children of God
- our sins are forgiven
- we receive the Holy Spirit
- we are called to holiness
In baptism, God also says to each of us:
“You are my beloved son / daughter.”
5. Living as the Baptized
Being baptized is not only about a past event; it is a daily calling.
To live our baptism means:
- choosing good over evil
- standing for truth
- loving others sacrificially
- being witnesses to Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities
👉 We are called not only to belong to Christ, but to reflect Christ.
Conclusion
Dear friends,
At the Jordan, Jesus steps into the water, heaven opens, and God speaks.
Today, we are reminded of who Jesus is — and who we are.
May we live every day as beloved children of God, faithful to the grace we received in baptism.
Amen.