Jesus is baptized when he is about 30 years old at the start of his public ministry. One father of the church remarks that no one who is not of full age should preach. While I do not consider this blog to be preaching, nevertheless I still wonder if I who am 21 am qualified to be writing even just a blog on such a Holy topic as the Eternal Word of God. (Please comment on this, I won't be offended).
Jesus steps into the place of sinners here, foreshadowing what he would do on Calvary. To John's questionings about who should baptize who, one father writes that Jesus' reply meant as much as "allow it now, for in the future I am going to baptize you with blood, my own." Because of this link to the passion in this cleansing of the sacrament, we can understand what St. Paul writes, "Are you unaware brothers that we who are baptized into Christ's baptism were baptized into his death?" Indeed, the very word Jordan means "descent" and one must bow humbly to accept the new life given in Christ, with its crosses and glory. As Jesus immediately ascends so too can we strive to grow up strong in grace after heaven has been opened for us by our baptism.
We find also the Blessed Trinity present at the baptism. The voice of the Father shows Jesus to be a true Son, and also harkens to the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah,
"Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations..."
This justice is accomplished on the cross. The Holy Spirit is at the beginning of the new creation in the form of a dove. I will quote the fathers on this:
PSEUDO-CHRYS. The Holy Ghost took the likeness of a dove, as being more than other animals susceptible of love. All other forms of righteousness which the servants of God have in truth and verity, the servants of the Devil have in spurious imitation; the love of the Holy Spirit alone an unclean spirit cannot imitate. And the Holy Ghost has therefore reserved to Himself this special manifestation of love, because by no testimony is it so clearly seen where He dwells as by the grace of love.
RABAN. Seven excellencies in the baptized are figured by the dove. The dove has her abode near the rivers, that when the hawk is seen, she may dive under water and escape; she chooses the better grains of corn; she feeds the young of other birds; she does not tear with her beak; she lacks a gall; she has her rest in the caverns of the rocks; for her song she has a plaint. Thus the saints dwell beside the streams of Divine Scripture, that they may escape the assaults of the Devil; they choose wholesome doctrine, and not heretical for their food; they nourish by teaching and example, men who have been the children of the Devil, i. e the imitators; they do not pervert good doctrine by tearing it to pieces as the heretics do; they are without hate irreconcilable; they build their nest in the wounds of Christ's death, which is to them a firm rock, that is their refuge and hope; as others delight in song, so do they in groaning for their sin.
CHRYS. It is moreover an allusion to ancient history; for in the deluge this creature appeared bearing an olive-branch, and tidings of rest to the world. All which things were a type of things to come. For now also a dove appears pointing out to us our liberator, and for an olive-branch bringing the adoption of the human race.
RABAN. Seven excellencies in the baptized are figured by the dove. The dove has her abode near the rivers, that when the hawk is seen, she may dive under water and escape; she chooses the better grains of corn; she feeds the young of other birds; she does not tear with her beak; she lacks a gall; she has her rest in the caverns of the rocks; for her song she has a plaint. Thus the saints dwell beside the streams of Divine Scripture, that they may escape the assaults of the Devil; they choose wholesome doctrine, and not heretical for their food; they nourish by teaching and example, men who have been the children of the Devil, i. e the imitators; they do not pervert good doctrine by tearing it to pieces as the heretics do; they are without hate irreconcilable; they build their nest in the wounds of Christ's death, which is to them a firm rock, that is their refuge and hope; as others delight in song, so do they in groaning for their sin.
CHRYS. It is moreover an allusion to ancient history; for in the deluge this creature appeared bearing an olive-branch, and tidings of rest to the world. All which things were a type of things to come. For now also a dove appears pointing out to us our liberator, and for an olive-branch bringing the adoption of the human race.
So the dove is an excellent choice. And, once again in communion with the Blessed Trinity, and also with his fellow human, Jesus shows us the two object, one action we are to share in the joy of love. We are to give everything for the father and for our neighbor. But let us not forget that it was God who acted first. Jesus came to John, though John was watching. So too does charity flow from God in superabundance when we are open, and is not a only a matter of shoulds, but of wants. We want to please God our Father and therefore we enter also into solidarity with our neighbor.
Lord, come to us and walk with us, turning our hearts in the Holy Spirit of love towards the Father and towards each other. You have have given power to our Sacraments, help us to live them in all their beauty!
Mary, help of Christians, help us to live the crosses we are given in each moment and lead us ever higher into the splendors of heaven, into a greater communion with the Trinity and with each other!
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