Greetings St. Augustine Family,
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord! With today’s feast, we mark the conclusion of the Christmas season. People understandably ask why Jesus was baptized by John since he was without sin. The short answer is this: While our baptism made us holy, Jesus’ baptism made the water holy! In other words, Jesus’ baptism inaugurated something new and greater than the baptism of John. John put it this way: “I baptize with water for repentance… He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire!”(Matthew 3:11).
Christian baptism established by Jesus himself is 100% proof; not “watered down” but Spirit-filled! When Jesus stood up from the water, the Holy Spirit descended upon him and God’s voice called out, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” When you and I were baptized, God adopted us and also called us his own children. Let us embrace this privileged identity as children of God and place it into action by living our faith. May God be pleased at how we do so; well pleased.