This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased

Ish 40:1-5.9-11, Titus 2: 11-14.3:4-7, Lk. 3:15-16.21-22. With the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, the Church brings the celebration of Christmas to an end and begins the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year C. Today's first reading proclaims a joyful acclamation that the Lord is going to take away the people’s sins and restore them to their former glory. It is a joyful acclamation of God’s direct action in creation and maintaining, of life. God demonstrated great love in first bringing into being all of creation. Yet God does not just sit back and let things develop on their own. God continues to manifest divine love for all that is created by sustaining life and allowing the Spirit to breathe into creatures and give them more life. In the second reading, Paul proclaims that the second coming of Christ and His ministry are signs of God’s great love for us. Paul reassures the younger minister that God demonstrated the great love which He has for people by sending the Son to be born, live, minister and ultimately die so that all people could be born again of the Spirit and have hope of eternal life. 

Today's Gospel presents us with a succinct but powerful account of the Baptism of the Lord by John. The account begins with the words of John the Baptist putting himself in the right perspective and never claimed do be the Christ. At this point, Jesus comes to John and is baptised by John. Thus, the Epiphany of Jesus as the Servant of God is revealed as the Holy Spirit appears as a dove: “You are my beloved Son, with You I am well pleased.” At the scene of the Baptism of our Lord, it was revealed to us that the History of Salvation remains under the direction of the Holy Trinity. This makes meaning why the door of salvation is opened unto us through our Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God’s grace has been revealed and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race. Through our Baptism, we become connected to this grace as adopted children of God. The Baptism of Jesus teaches us the indispensability of the Sacrament of Baptism for anyone who truly wants to be followers of Christ and, on the other hand, the secret of the successful living of our Baptismal Promises. On a day like this, it is vital to remember the day we were Baptised and to reflect on how we have kept the promises we made on the day of our Baptism. Have we truly become new creation? To live our adoptive children of God, we must look up to Jesus Christ. He is our Model and the New Man that God makes of us by the power of the graces He bestows on us.

May our celebration of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ renew within us the graces of our Baptism! Amen!! Good morning and happy Sunday!!!