While the occasion commemorated on this Feast Day doesn't correlate with the Christmas narrative as we tend to regard it, I find it fitting nonetheless that we include this feast at the close of the Christmas Season. It is another manifestation of God in Christ.
Jesus was baptized, and then the Heavens were opened, with Holy Spirit coming down as a dove to rest on Jesus's head, and God's voice speaking, declaring Jesus as His Son, and His actions as Son pleasing to Him, the Father.
Here Jesus receives identity, and then starts His mission of ministry to the people.
We start our life of faith with baptism, receiving the identity of Jesus, and a share in His same ministry. Just as Pentecost at the end of Easter sends us forth in His mission, so this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord sends us forth at the end of the Christmas Season in our mission to continue in His ministry. As Jesus manifested God's presence in the world by His coming, so now we continue making God's presence manifest as we continue in His mission of ministry. Ultimatley, the Christmas Season comes down to how we continue to make God present.
No comments:
Post a Comment