Why was Jesus Baptized?: Baptism of the Lord

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

The Baptism of the Lord

Why was Jesus Baptized? Did he have to?

·     No original sin

·     He was a person and God—so He didn’t have to be baptized, because he was perfect

St. Maximus: Someone might ask, “Why would a holy man desire baptisms?”  Listen to the answer: Christ is baptized, not to be holy by the water, but to make the waterholy, and by his cleansing to purify the waters which he touched.  For the consecration of Christ involves a more significant consecration of the water.

Or in the Gospel according to Matthew today:

·     “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.’”

Baptism:

·     Original sin out

·     Holy Spirit in

·     Part of God’s family

Finally

·     Why children?

o  “Let the children come to me…”

o  Are your little one’s choosing what to eat?  What diapers? What vehicle?  What car chair?

o  You parents teach your parents from the very beginning as humans

o  But you ought to also be focused on what you work as a spiritual person, and show your children to do the same!