The Christmas season closes this week with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Why was Jesus baptised, after all he was free from all sin, including original sin?

There a number of reasons. One is that Jesus was as much about actions as words. Before his ascension into heaven he asks his apostles to do two things, the first is to bring the world to belief in him, then, secondly, baptising people in the name of the Father, and The Son and The Holy Spirit. Through his own baptism Jesus showed how baptism was to be done. It is something that Christians continue to do over two thousand years later.

In his baptism Jesus shows us his connection to the Father. But there is more, the Holy Spirit is also present. This is the first example in the Gospels where we see the three persons in one God - the Holy Trinity. This was, and is, an important revelation to us.

Jesus' baptism also revealed his connection to the Father through the Holy Spirit. In our own baptism we are also connected to God in the same way which makes us too the adopted children of God. We are as much the daughters and sons of God as Jesus is if we chose to embrace that adoption in our lives. Amazing isn't it?

I am away from Monday to Friday this coming week spending a few days in Rome.



Please be assured of my prayers for your intentions there.

Fr Christopher