“The Lord was Baptised not to be cleansed Himself, but to cleanse the waters, so that those waters might have the power of Baptism.” (Saint Ambrose of Milan).
I have been reflecting on the baptism of Christ.
When Christ began His public ministry He began by being baptised int eh River Jordan…
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, 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, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:13-17).
And I have been reflecting on the reaction of Saint John the Baptist, who felt (and was indeed) unworthy to baptise God Himself. And yet – there was God in perfect humility – asking to be baptised by one of His own creatures…
Saint Ambrose of Milan explains “The Lord was Baptised not to be cleansed Himself, but to cleanse the waters, so that those waters might have the power of Baptism.” And later, during His Ascension, which we commemorate in the second Glorious Mystery of the Most Holy Rosary, we hear the disciples being commanded to baptise people of all nations…
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:19).
The Saints have always valued the Sacrament of Baptism. Saint Vincent Ferrer always celebrated the anniversary of his baptism and often went to kiss the baptismal font in the church of Saint Stephen in Valencia in veneration of the Sacrament itself.
Saint Francis Solano, in returning to his home-town after a period of absence that lasted some years, went first to the church in which he had been baptised and knelt at the baptismal font and sang the Creed.
Saint Josemaria arranged for the font in which he had been baptised to be brought to him and placed in his own chapel when found out that it was to be discarded, and he kissed it each time he passed by it.
And I have been reflecting on that today because none of this would have been possible if the Son of Man had not humbled Himself to be baptised by a mere mortal – one of His own creations. And right now, I am not sure which was the bigger miracle and wonder – the HUMILITY of God, or the Fact that through His baptism He baptised the water for me…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.