Jesus Baptized and Praying

Introduction.

Today is the Feast of The Baptism Of The Lord, we are celebrating it on last day of Christmas season. Tomorrow we start Ordinary time in Church Calendar. Living in Ordinary time means living in an ordered fashioned after something with purpose, putting things in the right order in our lives. In the beginning of this new year our readings give us the model for fashioning our lives in ordinary time.

Today is the Feast of The Baptism of The Lord, we are celebrating it on last day of Christmas season. Tomorrow we start Ordinary time in Church Calendar. Living in Ordinary time means living in an ordered fashion modeled after something with purpose, putting things in the right order in our lives. Our readings today give us a good model for fashioning our lives in ordinary time.

Body

Body

In our Gospel, we see Jesus also baptized by John the baptist and is among the people praying. Jesus Baptized and Praying. And a voice comes from heaven “You Are My Beloved Son with you, I am well pleased.”

Jesus a perfect fully human without sin, and fully divine had not need for baptism. But in his baptism he made Holy all the waters of Baptism for Humanity. Right before his own 40 days temptation in the dessert and victorious return, in his own baptism he died for all humanities weaknesses and temptations to sin. And a Voice came from heaven,“You Are My Beloved Son with you, I am well pleased.”

Picture Jesus just baptized and praying among the people at the Jordan. I wish we know what he was praying after his baptism, but we know what he praying to the Father before his passion for his disciples and us. In the Gospel of John, he prayed (paraphrasing),that we should know the Father and give us eternal life, that we are kept in Jesus name so that we may be one with them. He prayed that we may share his Joy completely, and kept from the evil one. He prayed that we may be consecrated in the truth. Your Word is Truth he said.

Jesus by his baptism, prayers, passion death and resurrection has made it possible for us to order our lives in our own baptism and prayers, by the power of Holy Spirit overcoming temptation and sin, becoming beloved sons of the Father fashioned after his Son Jesus.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Conclusion

They came to John the Baptist asking him if he was the Christ This world or Jesus baptized and praying

In our Gospel, we see Jesus baptized among the people praying. Jesus Baptized and Praying. Holy Spirit descending upon him, And a voice coming from heaven “You Are My Beloved Son with you, I am well pleased.”

Conclusion

Jesus a fully human without sin, and fully divine, had no need to be baptized. But in his baptism, he made Holy all the waters of Baptism for us imperfect humans. Right before his own 40 days in the dessert, and victorious return, in his baptism he died to all human weaknesses and temptations to sin for us. Is there a challenge ahead of you, draw deeper into the life of Jesus baptized and praying.

In our second reading the Apostle Paul says God has saved us through the bath of rebirth by the renewal of the Holy Spirit, training us to reject godless ways and wordly desires, eager to do what is good, so that by his grace we become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Jesus baptized and praying among the people. I wish we know what he was praying at that moment, but we know what he praying for his disciples and us to the Father before his passion. In the Gospel of John, he prayed (I’m paraphrasing), that we should know the Father, and give us eternal life, that we are kept in his name, Jesus name, and be one with them. He prayed that we may share his Joy completely, not to be taken from this world but be kept from the evil one. He prayed that we may be consecrated in the truth. Your Word is Truth he said. And he prayed Father not my will but thy will be done.

So as we enter Ordinary time tomorrow in this age of social media following and being liked. What are we ordering and fashioning ourselves to be more like? Being more like one with Jesus in prayer, eager to do what is good, or one with the world, in pursuit worldly desires?

In our second reading the Apostle Paul says God has saved us through the bath of rebirth by the renewal of the Holy Spirit, training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires, eager to do what is good, so that by his grace we become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Conclusion

Jesus by his baptism, prayers, passion death and resurrection has empowered us by the renewing of the Holy Spirit, to order our lives from our baptisms and prayers, as his beloved sons and daughter, to overcome temptations to sin, living Holy lives. The Saints were most aware of their sins!

So as we enter ordinary time tomorrow, in this age of instant self gratification, social media following, politically correct, being liked, in this age of sexual scandals and cover up everywhere, including in the Church, what are we going to fashion our lives to be more like? Let us reject godless ways and wordly desires, and be more like one with Jesus baptized and praying, eager to do what is good.

So as we enter ordinary time tomorrow, in this age of social media following and being liked. What are we ordering ourselves to be more like? To be more like, one with Jesus in prayer, eager to do what is good, or one with the world, in pursuit worldly desires? I pray we become more like one with Jesus in prayer eager to do what is good.