This Sunday we conclude the liturgical season of Christmas with the great Solemnity of the Baptism of Lord Jesus.
Our readings this week have been preparing us, getting us to think about the importance of baptism and effects of baptism. .
In today’s Gospel When the man full of leprosy came to Jesus to be healed he said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” And the Lord said, “I do will it” and the man was immediately cure of his illness.
Lord instituted the Sacrament of Baptism because he does wish to make us clean—not just from the skin disease of leprosy but the much deadlier soul disease of sin
People with leprosy were driven out of their community, alienated from their families because of their contagious, disfiguring disease. And now healed, the man could be reconciled with those whom he was distanced from because of his disease.
And in baptism what happens? Baptism heals the division between man and God and incorporates man into a new family—the Church.
“Whoever possesses the Son has life” says St. John in our first reading. In baptism we come to possess the Son through faith and Sacramental grace.
We sometimes feel like lepers—alienated from our families, everything in our life going wrong, our hearts and minds disfigured by selfish attitudes. Our lives can become so miserable when we lose perspective that we are preparing now for eternity, that we have received the gift of life in baptism, and that this life is about cultivating that gift of grace.
Many of us do not remember our baptism. Today is a wonderful day to reflect on the dignity of our own baptism, to consider the lives where the poison of sin still lingers, and to open ourselves to the continuing unfolding of baptismal grace in our lives that we may be led to deeper imitation of the Lord Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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