Monday, October 08, 2007

The Luminous Mysteries - The Baptism of the Lord in the Jordan

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

John tried to refuse him with the protest, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me!”

Jesus answered him, “Give in for now; we must do this if we are to fulfill all of God’s demands.”

So John gave in.

After Jesus was baptized, he came directly out of the water.

Suddenly, the sky opened and he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove, and hover over him.

With that, a voice from the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son. My favor rests on Him.”

The Baptism in the Jordan is first of all a mystery of light.

Here, as Christ descends into the waters, the innocent one who became “sin” for our sake (cf. 2Cor 5:21), the heavens open wide and the voice of the Father declares him the beloved Son (cf. Mt 3:17 and parallels), while the Spirit descends on him to invest him with the mission which he is to carry out. (RVM, 21)