The Christmas season concludes with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.It may seem strange to conclude this season in which we celebrate the Lord’s birth with an event taking place 30 years after Christmas, but this Feast commemorates a very important truth related to the reason we celebrate Christmas at all.
At Christmas, when Christ was born, we believe that God, who loves us so much, plunged himself into our world; the omnipotent God became one of us, sharing our humanity.
At Christmas, God was plunged into humanity and shares our humanity; when we are baptized, we are plunged into the life of God; through the waters of baptism we became sharers in his divinity.
So the Lord’s Baptism is an important link in the chain between his saving birth and our new birth in the Sacrament of Baptism.
At the Lord’s Baptism, it was revealed by the voice of the Father speaking from heaven, and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus indeed was the incarnate Son of God. In our baptism, we receive adoption by God as “sons in the son” as St. Paul writes.
Pope Saint Leo the Great would give special catechism lessons to the newly baptized. He would instruct them, "Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God's own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God."
Never forget! Recalling that we are baptized should bring us joy when we are sad, and strength when we are tempted. A powerful way to fight off temptation is to recall our baptism. To say to ourselves, “wait, I’m a Christian, I’m not supposed to do that; I’m not supposed to talk like that. I’m supposed to act like Christ.”
For Baptism is more than just a symbolic ceremony where we express our faith; in Baptism, as he does in all the Sacraments, God does something for us, that we cannot do ourselves. He gives us a sharing in his divine life, a share in the power and strength by which Christ overcame sin and death on the cross.
This is the greatest of the Christmas gifts, the gift of salvation, the gift which overcomes the power of darkness and evil and death, the gift of eternal life.
May the grace of our baptism be renewed and flourish within us, strengthening us in our mission to “go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them all that Christ commands and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness.
For all those to be baptized, especially those preparing for baptism at the Easter Vigil: that they may be open to the grace of conversion and the joy of the followers of Christ.
For the conversion of all those who dwell in the darkness of sin and ignorance of God and His commandments: that the mercy of Jesus Christ will bring light to their minds and hearts. We pray to the Lord.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
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