Gospel: Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22
Today too much focus will be placed on some apologetic as to why Jesus was baptized. Instead, let us reflect on our own baptism and what is means for us in our lives. For, at our own baptism we too heard the words of the Father spoken in today's Gospel: "This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased." The ritual did not make us so any more than it did for Jesus. The ritual is an outward manifestation of how God sees each of us as a beloved son and daughter.
Once we come out of the waters of baptism, the task now is to follow the Lord Jesus in his work in the world. We too are to carry out the words of Isaiah - to bring good news to the poor, to bring sight to the blind, to free those in prison, and to proclaim a jubilee. It is now our task to bring healing, liberation, and nourishment to everyone we encounter through works of mercy.
So today let us reflect and discern how we are to live out our baptism call to perform these deeds of love and mercy in the world. Each day we can reflect on who in our midst is in need of such care, or what particular ministry of service can we perform in our community in caring for the poor and marginalized, the sick and imprisoned, the outcast and stranger. For today we have received healing, deliverance, and food from God. It is now for us to do likewise to others in response to that love.
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