‘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.