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Meditate on God’s Word
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
| First Reading: | Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 | |
| Second Reading: | Acts 10:34-38 | |
| Gospel: | Matthew 3.13-17 - The Baptism of Jesus |
Baptized into Stewardship
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. From reflecting on Jesus’ baptism, we can learn more about the mystery of our own baptism which the Catechism describes as “God's most beautiful and magnificent gift” (CCC, 1216). Firstly, we realize that being God, Jesus did not need to be baptized yet chose to do so as a model for us and to reveal Himself more fully.
Firstly, the Father reveals Jesus as His “beloved Son.” So too, in our baptism we receive our renewed identities as beloved sons and daughters of God. St. Paul also describes baptism as clothing ourselves with Christ (Gal 3:27). It is during this most special sacrament that our entire lives are changed for we fully recognize who we are in the eyes of God.
Secondly, the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove reveals Jesus as the Anointed One, or the Christ. Following His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to prepare for His mission. Similarly, during our baptism we are anointed with sacred chrism which “signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit” (CCC, 1241). Like Jesus, we too will be led by the Spirit into mission. The USCCB in their Pastoral Letter on Stewardship* calls all the baptized to accept their baptismal responsibility “to place their gifts, their resources, their selves at God’s service in and through the Church.” Essentially, to live out our baptism is to live as an authentic steward. Let us ask ourselves, are we truly living out the call of stewardship we received during our baptism?
Summary
In our baptism we receive our renewed identities as beloved sons and daughters of God just as the Father called Jesus His “Beloved Son” at His baptism. Moreover, as the dove representing the Spirit descends on Jesus, so too during our baptism we are anointed with sacred chrism signifying the gift of the Spirit. Lastly, as Jesus’ baptism marked the beginning of His mission, our baptism marks the start of our mission as stewards of Christ to place our gifts, resources, and very selves at God’s service in and through the Church.
https://www.archtoronto.org/stewardship
