Today we celebrate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river by John the Baptist. When Jesus approached John for baptism, John initially refused to baptise Him, because John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, because he felt unworthy, and also because Jesus should have been the one baptising him. However, Jesus insisted upon John baptising Him to fulfil all righteousness, since even though Jesus did not sin, He chose to be baptised to signify His union with the sinfulness of humanity, for whom He came to redeem from such sin.
When Jesus came out of the waters of baptism, things changed in His life. His baptism became the beginning of His public ministry. It also showed His close relationship with God as expressed in the words: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Jesus became an example to all of us of how to be in the right relationship with God by always doing what was righteous for the sake of building up the Kingdom of God.
By nature of our own baptism, we died to our old sinful ways and have risen to new life in Jesus. Our lives have changed and with it come new Christian responsibilities. We are called to imitate the example of Jesus by doing God’s will every day in our lives and by using the grace that He gives us daily to help build up the kingdom of God. Just as God gave Jesus the power to go out and spread His love in the world, so too does He give us the same Spirit to do good in the world. May we then go forth to proclaim the Good News with joy, enthusiasm and vigour; and do our part in building God's Kingdom, for His greater glory.
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