The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord closes the liturgical season of Christmas. Together with the Epiphany and the Wedding at Cana in the liturgy of the Church, it introduces the public manifestations of Jesus. It reveals who Jesus is and how he will carry out His mission.

Baptism in the Church is the sacrament of initiation into God's family, but here God's own voice from heaven proclaims Jesus as already the Son, the Beloved, who enjoys God's favour. So this is no empty ritual, performed for the benefit of mere mortals. Rather, with the opening of the heavens, the descent of the Spirit like a dove, and the voice from heaven, this is the establishment of a new communication between God and His people.

It is an act of self-emptying - Jesus strips Himself of any divine prerogative and takes His place amongst humans for whom baptism involves the grace of repentance and re-birth. As He is baptised He takes on all our sins, and, in rising from the waters of baptism, he accomplishes the ultimate victory of the Resurrection. Both the descent of the Spirit on Him and the heavenly voice are a prophetic commission to Him for His mission on earth.

This commission of living and proclaiming the good news applies also to God's children adopted through the gift of the Spirit at our baptism.