Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 3, 13-17
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
You are a child of God by Baptism
1. Clean of soul: When you are about to be baptized you first receive the holy oil of the catechumens; its power is so great that it covers your soul for your whole life, helping you to ward off evil, avoid temptation and possess the faith necessary to carry the cross of Christ throughout life. From that moment on, your soul belongs to God. But you are also anointed on your chest with that holy oil which has been blessed by the Bishop together with the priests on Holy Thursday. This has great significance, because it is through the Church that you receive the Holy Spirit, so that you become God’s property.
2.Water: It is the symbol of purification, bathing, purity, and life. When you were baptized, members of your family presented you unto your spiritual family, the Church. That’s why, in the rite of Baptism the priest uses the words: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” He uses the word ‘I’ because he says it in the name of the Church he represents and then he mentions the Holy Trinity because you are incorporated into Christ by Baptism, you are configured to Christ. Are you aware of how important you are for God?
3.Chrismation: Finally, you receive the Chrism on your forehead. Holy Chrism oil is olive oil mixed with balsam, which has also been blessed by the Bishop on Holy Thursday during the Chrism Mass. This oil symbolizes strength, and the fragrant balsam represents the “aroma of Christ” as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:15. Anointing with chrism oil signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the past, gladiators used to use oil on their whole body so that the blows would slip off and not have great impact on them. In your life, there will be times when you receive many blows, but God’s strength will always be with you.
In the baptismal rite, the oil is used with the words “as Christ was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so may you live always as a member of his Body, sharing everlasting life.” So, you become priest, prophet and king, like Jesus, because you must speak to God about your brothers and sisters, and you must speak to them about God. Remember that you are light and that is why a candle is lit is a symbol of the mission of your life.
Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ. With Baptism, you receive the greatness of being God’s child. Live your faith so that many may fall in love with God through your life.
Today the Christmas season ends and tomorrow we begin what’s called ‘Ordinary Time’ in which the faithful consider the fullness of Jesus’ teachings and works among his people.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
