My Beloved Son

 

 Matthew 3: 13-17

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

This dramatic moment in the Jordan River brings the Christmas Season and Festivities to an end.  But at the same time, it's a beginning, for from this time on, Jesus becomes more aware of his mission.  He will spend 40 days in the desert, a retreat, so to say, where he becomes more aware of himself, his relation to the Father and the purpose for his becoming a man, one of us.God's plan for our salvation baffles us when we try to unravel it, so we need to contemplate it to get to its core. Our Advent meditations and prayers, our Christmas preparations and celebrations each year help us in the real task now ahead of us: to learn more what Jesus came to teach us, and to put it into practice, in the days ahead, Ordinary Time..but really Extraordinary Time, for we are called to be different, to be disciples of Jesus, no ordinary task. With the Spirit hovering above us, we, as beloved Sons and Daughters,  can do it. Let's follow Jesus and take up our mission as he did.

Bro. Rene

Spirit of God, give us grace to recognize the ways you live in our midst. Trusting that we are your beloved, may we have the courage to work for righteousness and truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Aaron Morris, C.S.C.