January 12th 2025 Sunday Thought

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM
OF THE LORD
‘Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to
John to be baptised’

Baptism is not uniquely Christian. Different
types of washing and purification by water are
practiced in almost every other religion in the
world including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism and Shintoism. The Feast of
the Baptism of the Lord or ‘Theophany’ is
celebrated annually on the Sunday after 6th
January. It closes the Christmas cycle in the
Roman Catholic calendar. It commemorates
the momentous event at the Jordan when the
Lord came to be baptised by John. It is the
official revelation of Jesus as the Son of God
to the world. It is the occasion of the first
public revelation of all Three Persons of the
Blessed Trinity-the Son being baptised; the
Holy Spirit descending; the Father speaking
from the heavens. It is for Jesus a moment of
decision as He leaves the safety of His hidden
life and embarks on a journey that will take
Him from the hills of Galilee to the Hill of
Calvary. It is a moment of identification as
He immerses Himself in our humanity in
order to show us how to live as children of
the Father and be held in His embrace. It is a
moment of approval as the Father testifies that
Jesus is His Only Begotten Son. The Baptism
of Jesus marked the first step in a long and
arduous journey. So did our Baptism. It was
the day we began a lifelong walk with God.
On this day we give thanks for the gift and
ponder its’ implications.