Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, a festival that comes right after the Christmas season and ushers in a new chapter in the life of Jesus. Christmas revealed to us the mystery of God made flesh, Emmanuel, God-with-us. Now, with the baptism of Jesus in the
Jordan River, we see the beginning of his public ministry. Before he preached, healed, and taught, Jesus first chose to be baptized. This moment was so important that all four Gospels include it, marking it as the doorway through which Jesus stepped into his mission.

The baptism of Jesus is not only a historical event; it is a living reminder of our own baptism. When Jesus came to John at the Jordan, he was not confessing sin, for he was without sin. Instead, he was expressing his solidarity with the human race. He stood among sinners, identifying with them as a fellow human being. For Jesus, showing this solidarity was more important than any social status or reputation. He chose to be with us, to stand in our place, and to begin his mission from the same waters where others sought forgiveness.

As Jesus rose from the waters, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father’s voice declared: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” These words reveal Jesus’ identity, but they also echo into our lives. In baptism, we too are united with Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, and claimed as God’s beloved children. That means when God looks at us, he sees not our failures or sins, but his child—someone he loves deeply and with whom he is well pleased. Baptism tells us who we are and whose we are.

But baptism is not only about identity; it is also about mission. Just as Jesus’ baptism marked the beginning of his public ministry, our baptism is the beginning of our discipleship. It is not simply a past event recorded in a parish register. It is a living reality, a grace that continues to shape us every day. Baptism calls us to live in solidarity with others, to bring Christ’s love into the world, and to let the Holy Spirit guide our choices and actions.

This feast also brings our Christmas celebrations to a close. We have rejoiced in the birth of Jesus, the light shining in the darkness. Now, with his baptism, we move from celebration to mission. Christmas reminds us that God is with us. Baptism reminds us that God is within us,
dwelling in our hearts through the Spirit.

As we reflect on this feast, we are invited to remember our baptism and to affirm its gift. Each time we bless ourselves with holy water, each time we renew our baptismal promises, each time we live faithfully as Christians, we are saying “yes” again to being God’s beloved children.
Let us pray that God our Father may be able to say of us, as he said of Jesus: “This is my child, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Baptism of the Lord is more than a story from long ago. It is a mirror of our own baptism. It tells us our identity as beloved children of God, and it gives us our mission to live in solidarity and love. Today, let us rejoice in our baptism, let us affirm it, and let us live it with faith and joy.