CHRIST’S BAPTISM AND OUR OWN BAPTISM
Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Year C Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch Bible Texts: Isaiah 42:1–4, 6–7; Titus 2:12-14; 3:4-7; Luke 3:15–16, 21–22 Today is the feast of the baptism of the Lord. The baptism of the Lord officially concludes the Christmas Season and ushers in the Ordinary Time. The baptism of the Lord was the official inauguration of the public ministry of Jesus. It was also a profound moment of epiphany or revelation of the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and of his mission as the Messiah. The Gospel reading presents the scene of Jesus’ baptism by John in the river Jordan. Our catechism teaches us that baptism is the sacrament that washes away sins. However, Jesus’ baptism was not one of repentance, as he is sinless. Rather, it was a profound act of solidarity with humanity. Just as God had to become man in order to raise our fallen nature, so also did Christ had to go through baptism in order to identify with us, sinners. By entering the waters of t...
