You are Also 'Beloved"

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

~~Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7~~Psalm 29 ~~Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38~~Matthew 3:13-17~~

John reluctantly allows Jesus to be baptized by him
 in the penitential waters of the Jordan River.
Jesus, though sinless, enters into our sinfulness and submits
himself to the ritual cleansing.
He willfully enters with us into our darkness.
He humbles himself so that we may be
brought to his life giving waters of salvation.

Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;

As Jesus approaches the banks of the river he experiences
 the smells of the area.
He feels the coolness and wetness of the water.
He hears the voice of the Father...

The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic. 

He sees the Holy Spirit appear above his head as the dove.
He is the beloved Son, who is with us.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and power.

The Trinity comes together over these cleansing waters,
these baptismal waters...
these waters that remove sin and cleanse the soul.

And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus became like us in all things except sin
so that we could become children of the light.

The Trinity comes together at the baptism of the Lord.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit converge together to validate
and confirm the salvation for all of us.

At our baptism we are also called 'beloved' by God the Father.
We are saved by the Son through our baptism.
We are strengthened through the Holy Spirit at our baptism.

We are surrounded by blessings through our Baptism.
Peace.