Yesterday we celebrated the baptism of Jesus, an event that formally began the public ministry of Jesus and ends the Christmas season for us today.  But it's a strange event.

Why would the sinless, almighty God of the universe receive baptism alongside fallen men and women?

St. Maximus of Turin affirmed, "Christ is baptized, not to be made holy by the water, but to make the water holy."  Jesus allows himself to stand shoulder-to-shoulder and numbered among us fellow sinners, assuming his role as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world and descend into death for our salvation. 

We must all be humble enough to enter into the mystery and go down into the waters of our Baptismal call to be reborn in Christ who desires for us life and life in abundance!