January 10

by David Lins  |  01/10/2021  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

In this week’s Gospel, we once again read about the Baptism of Jesus.

“It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.”

Here is what Benedict XVI has to say about it in Jesus of Nazareth:

“Looking at the events in the light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realized what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon his shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners. His inaugural gesture is an anticipation of the Cross… The Baptism is an acceptance of death for the sins of humanity, and the voice that calls out “This is my beloved Son” over the baptismal water is an anticipatory reference to the Resurrection. This explains why, in his own discourses, Jesus uses the word baptism to refer to his death.”

Do you get it?

Jesus had to be baptized in the same way he needed to die on the cross. That is...he didn’t...except for the sake of us. For my sake. For yours.

He is God. There is no need for him to overcome original sin and be adopted by God through baptism. Except he dove into the Jordan for our salvation.

He is God. There is no need for him to pay for sins as he is entirely free of sin. Except he hung upon the cross for our sin.

Whether it was rising from the waters of the Jordan, or rising from the grave, every act of Jesus was an act of love. For you. For me.

How will we respond?

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.