1st the manifestation to the Wise Men and to all the world, God with us.
Some years, (like last year), all three make up the three
Transitional Sundays from Christmas to Ordinary Time followed then by its 34
remaining Sundays of the year.
Today its Matthew’s gospel that brings us to the Jordon
river and Jesus’ baptism to behold this great Epiphany:
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Mtt. 3:16-17
Not only is this a glorious manifestation of Jesus’
sharing in God’s life, but it gives us insight into what Christian baptism and
our baptism really means. By our baptism we are destined to a sharing in this
same glory. However, like all key insights our understanding first begins in the
Old Testament – specifically those accounts of passing through the barriers of the
great seas/rivers – Red Sea lead by Moses and Jordan River lead by Joshua.
These great bodies of water are preventing God’s people
from entering into Promised land – their destiny planned by God for them. But
the hand of God reaches down and parts the seas so the people can pass over on
dry land into the promised land.
Similarly, what prevents us from entering our destiny,
our promised land is the great “sea of sin”. This is why Jesus has come into
the world, he alone can overcome this impenetrable barrier holding us back. It
is by the power of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sin the sea of sin is
parted.
Original sin has caused us all to be born into this world
on the wrong side of the sea. In baptism Jesus parts the sea so that we pass
through the waters and are born again on the other side, free now to follow
Jesus who will lead us home. The Christian Life begins when we are born again through
the waters of baptism.
Now sin and the Devil is not finished with us yet. Now that we are here on the
other side of the great Sea of Damnation freed by the Sanctifying Grace of baptism, we must follow
Jesus through the remaining days of the time allotted to us by living holy lives.
So now the journey home begins, or might we say continues. The Sundays of Ordinary Time and the gospel of Jesus will continue to part the sea of ignorance standing in our way. They will be our guiding light. Come, let us follow! |
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