The Baptism of the Lord (12.01.14)
Christ, the sinless one, joined the queue of sinners, but in his case, in his baptism by his cousin John in the waters of the Jordan Jesus was taking on the sin of humanity.A lesson we can learn from this incident is the importance of example. All his earthly life, Jesus taught us how to live – growing naturally through all the stages of life, from babyhood to adulthood, developing gradually in wisdom, age and stature. For His thirty hidden years as man, He responded to the graces bestowed on Him by His Father, and nurtured the seed planted in the good soil of His soul. Goodness and virtue of any kind has to be experienced and lived before it can be taught.Jesus taught us the importance of waiting in the spiritual life. For thirty years, He authentically practised what He would preach during His three years in public life, showing us that nothing is impossible to God.
We, His followers are asked to live the present moment to the full. The future is in God’s Hands.
The most important thing in life is not the work we do, but rather what we make of ourselves, with His grace.
Through our Baptism, the seed of Christ-like living is planted in our souls. May we cherish it.
However, we must be patient with ourselves and with others. People develop at different speeds. The Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen us along the way. Then, too, we must remember that life is an uphill climb, and it is not easy to keep to the straight and narrow path, but we have the support and encouragement of our brothers and sisters in the Christian community into which we were inserted at Baptism.
Baptism was not over and done with when the priest poured water over our infant foreheads.
We are being baptised by everything that happens to us in life.
We are baptised by trials and difficulties – in their turbulent waters we are purified of all that is false and useless.
We are baptised by suffering – in its murky waters we grow in humility and compassion.
We are baptised by joy – in its gurgling waters we experience the goodness of life.
We are baptised by love –in its singing waters we blossom like flowers in the sun.
To be baptised is to be christened, which means to be made like Christ.
The sacrament only begins this process.
It plants the seed.
It will take a lifetime for this seed to grow and ripen – for the image of Christ to be fully formed in us.