The Third Sunday after Christmas: The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17 The Word of God Who Received Baptism
Today, as Jesus came from the Jordan River to receive the baptism of St. John the Baptist, St. John attempted to prevent Him. For John recognized Jesus Christ as the Lord and Creator of the universe and all creation. Thus, upon seeing Jesus approach him to be baptized at his hands, he immediately told Jesus that it was he who needed to be baptized by Christ, not the other way around.
The merciful Lord Christ, though He existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Instead, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant and being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus appeared among humanity in a form similar to ours, and with His sacred Body, He sanctified the waters—which are themselves creatures—bringing eternal salvation to the world. The very waters we use in receiving Christ’s Holy Baptism were thus consecrated by Him at the Jordan River. When we receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism, we are washed clean of original sin in the water associated with His passion; we die with Christ, are buried with Him, and are united with Him. In this way, we may begin a new life in the risen Lord at His glorious Resurrection.
Today, the Holy Spirit, who appears before the eyes of the world, does not choose to manifest in the powerful image of fiery tongues as on Pentecost Sunday. Instead, He chooses the form of a dove. This is to tell us that the Holy Trinity is not the harsh God described by the Pharisees, nor is it the God loved by the Sadducees, who preferred material offerings to a humble and contrite heart. Rather, He is a God who loves humanity more than Himself, a God who actively seeks communion with humanity, a God who embraces both those who observe His Law and all those who have sinned against Him.
On this Third Sunday after Christmas, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, let us deeply remember the profession of faith we made when receiving the sacraments of Christian initiation. Let us remain faithful to the Word of God and worthily accomplish the mission entrusted to us by God. Amen.
Saturday after the Epiphany Gospel: John 3:22 – 30 He Must Increase, I Must Decrease
We may often ponder such a question: Jesus and His precursor John were both baptizing the crowds. Whose baptism was more spiritually beneficial? From a liturgical perspective, the water used in baptism is meant to bring new life and, more importantly, purification. Thus, the water itself does not produce any actual effect.
If we read the Gospel carefully, we will find that when St. Luke spoke of the baptism administered by St. John the Baptist, he recorded: “John came throughout the region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”(cf. Lk 3:3) When John spoke of Christ, he testified thus: “I baptize you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and water.”(cf. Lk 3:16) From this we can see that John’s baptism was merely an expression of our renunciation of our own sins. When we receive the Sacrament of Baptism from Christ through the hands of a priest, we are once and for all cleansed of original sin by the blood and water that flowed from Christ’s Sacred Side. When we receive the Holy Spirit of Christ, this Divine Spirit infuses His Word into our hearts, enabling us to live in the infinite love of God.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ! Since we have been united with Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism and have become children of God by receiving the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, we must imitate the humility of St. John the Baptist, the meekness of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holiness of the Holy Spirit. We must put God and the spread of the Gospel first in all things, and with a completely renewed attitude of life, fully assist Christ and His Church in proclaiming the Word of God to this changing world. May all peoples of the earth, by receiving the Word of God, no longer live in bondage but always dwell in the grace of God.
Friday after the Epiphany Gospel: Luke 5:12-16 Leprosy
In today’s Gospel, we see a man afflicted with leprosy. In Jesus’ time, those who had leprosy were often seen as unclean. Leprosy, like leprosy today, was highly contagious. For this reason, in the Book of Leviticus, the Lord instructed Moses: “The person who has a case of serious skin disease is to have his clothes torn and his hair left uncombed, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He will be unclean as long as he has the disease. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.” (cf. Lev 13:45-46) From this, we can see that for the Jews of Jesus’ time, one who had leprosy had to be separated from family and social relations, resulting in isolation by the entire community.
Luke tells us: A man afflicted with leprosy came to Jesus seeking His healing. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not regard this man as unclean. Through an action the leper could perceive, He touched the sick man. In Luke’s words: Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” And the leprosy left him immediately. (cf. Luke 5:13) Thus, He set an example for us.
In the past, we too lived in various states of uncleanness. Because of original sin, we have suffered from all kinds of leprosies—not only physical and psychological, but also spiritual leprosy. This leprosy is sin, which distances us from God and makes us unclean. Therefore, today, let us imitate this leper, find the courage to approach God, and ask for His healing, so that we may become clean. And let us share the good news of our cleansing with others through appropriate and dignified actions, so that the world may, like us, be cleansed through faith in God and the mercy of Jesus Christ, restoring all of creation to the harmony of its original creation by God.
您必须登录才能发表评论。