Feast of the Baptism of the Lord The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is very important to the Church’s process of bringing us to Christ because it reveals both the identity of the Lord and begins the Gospel’s revelation of the Lord’s work of salvation. John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. The three Synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke – report this event. It is not recorded in John, although John’s Gospel alludes to John the Baptist’s baptisms in the Jordan, and in John’s Gospel, John the Baptist gives Jesus the title, “Lamb of God.” The first reading is one of the four Suffering Servant Songs of Isaiah. These quite poetic passages are prominent in the liturgies of Lent, and indeed of Good Friday. Who was this Suffering Servant? To whom do these passages refer? The future Messiah? One of the prophets? The author? Was it a collective reference to the people of Israel? No one knows. Regardless, the Christian liturgies throughout the centuries have seen Jesus in the Suffering Servant Songs. They convey an ominous overtone. Certainly, this is the message for this feast. In this Scripture, God reveals that a faithful and pure servant will come but will meet an outrageous fortune. Many will turn against him. Yet he will be steadfast. Supplying the second reading is the Acts of the Apostles. After Easter, almost every liturgy contains a reading from the Acts of the Apostles, but this source rarely furnishes readings at Mass in any other time. So, the appearance of Acts on this weekend is unusual. This reading is important. Peter’s own identity is revealed. Peter speaks on behalf of all the apostles. He is chief among the apostles. He reaches out to gentiles by teaching Cornelius, a Roman officer, a foreigner, and a pagan. Peter proclaims Jesus, declaring that the saving ministry of Jesus began with the Lord’s baptism. Peter’s message is the continuation of the Lord’s message. St. Luke’s Gospel provides the last reading. Luke’s report of the baptism, as Mark’s, highlights the Lord’s divine identity and mission of salvation. In Luke, as in Mark, God announces that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is fulfilling the plan of God. Certain images are important. In a distant echo of Creation, the reading says that life comes from the water. Jesus emerges from the water to begin the mission of redemption. Looking ahead, it prefigures Christian baptism. Another image is that of the sky. God speaks from the sky, an ancient image of divinity in the Old Testament. Reflection In Advent, the Church called us to renew ourselves in holiness and grace. The Church joyfully has led us to Christmas, the anniversary of the Lord’s birth. If we responded in Advent, Christmas was much more than a commemoration. It was a personal event in which faithful hearts and souls truly received Christ and were restored, healed, and freed from the inevitability of death. In the great revelation of the Epiphany, celebrated last week, the Church continued to tell us about Jesus. Son of Mary and therefore human, the Lord also is God, as the Magi realized. Now, on this feast, the Church instructs us further about Jesus. He is the instrument of God’s love for us. Doomed by our sins, we find another chance in Jesus. He is our savior. He reconciles sinners with God. Union with Jesus is critical, if we wish to be saved. We must be inseparably bonded to Christ. He is God. God is love. God forgives us and restores us to eternal life; however, we must accept the Lord. Practically speaking, Jesus comes to us through Peter and the apostles, the Lord’s students, whom Jesus commissioned to bring salvation to all people.  The post Christ’s Own Baptism Reveals His Plan for Our Salvation appeared first on Today's Catholic.