Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 / Acts 10:34-38 / Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Today the Church celebrates the Baptism of the Lord. With this feast, the Christmas Season ends and Ordinary Time begins, which is characterized by hope and closeness to Jesus so that we can hear His teachings and learn from His actions.

Today the evangelist Luke tells us about the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the waters of the River Jordan. The evangelist says that the Holy Spirit - in bodily form like a dove - descended upon Jesus while He was praying. Luke says that the voice of God the Father was heard saying that Jesus was His beloved Son, with Him He was well pleased.

The Baptism of the Lord is a turning point. Before it, Jesus had His life hidden in Nazareth of Galilee with Mary and Joseph, working as a carpenter. The Bible does not have much information about this stage of Jesus' private life.

After His Baptism, Jesus began His public life, carrying out the mission that God the Father entrusted to Him, in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, to save men from their sins.

Today the prophet Isaiah tells us about the Servant of the Lord, this mysterious character Who, through His suffering, would reconcile sinful humanity with the Lord, fulfilling God's justice. Isaiah says that the Lord declared that this Servant was His chosen one, in with Whom He was well pleased. God has put His spirit upon Him.

For us Christians, Jesus is this Servant of the Lord of the prophet Isaiah. He is the divine chosen one filled with the Holy Spirit, as we see in this feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Today the evangelist Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles that Simon Peter testified that Jesus, after His Baptism, went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.

We see how Jesus carried out His mission well after His Baptism, in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.

We too were baptized and, furthermore, we confirmed our Baptism. May we also carry out the mission that God has entrusted to us, strengthened and empowered by the Holy Spirit, serving in the Church and renewing society.

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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