Feast of Baptism of the Lord

 I think that this feast has the potential to be the most understood of the liturgical celebrations in the liturgical calendar. It is about the Incarnation not about the sacrament of baptism! Jesus identifies with the people whom he has come to save. Like Moses he will lead his people on an exodus - not from Egypt to the Promised Land but from death to the resurrection. It is important that we note that the Holy Spirit descends on Jesus after the baptism. The baptism in water identifies Jesus with his people. He is Jewish and is immersed in the life and history of the Chosen People of which he is a part. To be human is to be immersed in the sitz im leben, life situation, of one's people and family. In the resurrection Jesus transcends human categories. As Saint Paul writes: "From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way." (2 Cor 5: 16) Thus, Christian baptism is in a different category from that of the baptism of St John the Baptist. Nevertheless, in Christ, we can still hear the words: "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (Mk 1: 11)