11 Jan – Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, or Theophany, is the feast day commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Originally the baptism of Christ was celebrated on Epiphany, which commemorates the coming of the Magi, the baptism of Christ, and the wedding at Cana. Over time in the West, however, the celebration of the baptism of the Lord came to be commemorated as a distinct feast from Epiphany. It is celebrated in the Catholic Church as well as the Anglican and Lutheran Churches on the first Sunday following The Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6). Some Lutheran churches celebrate it on the Sunday before Lent, or Quinquagesima.
- Wikipedia
Isa 42:1-4,6-7
Acts 10:34-38
Mt 3:13-17
“I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; I have taken you by the hand and formed you; I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light for the nations.”
I remember the day I was baptized more than 20 years ago. For a while, I had watched in the pews as parades of catechumens dressed in white were baptized and took their places amongst the church and God’s people. I had wondered what it would be like, and I remember looking forward to my own baptism with a mixture of trepidation and excitement.
Baptism doesn’t mark the end of our journey from catechumens to neophytes; rather, it marks the beginning of our ministry that God has in store for us. When John baptized Jesus, it marked the start of Jesus’ ministry. When the Spirit of God descended upon Him, a voice from the heavens proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”, marking God’s approval and confirmation of Jesus as Messiah.
When we are baptized, we too confirm that we belong to God, a sign of our declaration to a new life in God and obedience to God. More importantly though, it symbolizes a ‘death’ of our old life and the ‘birth’ of a new one, in union with God through Christ our Lord. Romans 6:3-4 says: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” We are washed away from our sins, and we now begin afresh, together with Jesus. Just as much as we are a part of God now, He is now a part of us.
And just as much as Jesus’ baptism marked the start of His ministry, so too should this mark the start of ours. This isn’t necessarily in terms of vocation or which official ministry under the church that we pursue, but also how we act, think, say, believe in our hearts and in our daily lives. As God declared of Jesus, “I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations”, we too can take up our mantle and be a light for the people immediately around us, so that “they will know we are Christians by our love”.
Baptism is for all, as Christ is for all who believe in Him. As we renew our baptismal vows, may we remember our role as believers of Christ, and live our lives with love as God would have us do.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Annette Soo)
Prayer: Almighty God and Father, as we forge ahead into this new year, may we do so with renewed vigour and faith, to do things right with all our might, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving: Praise be to you Almighty Father, for this wonderful chance to be reborn and to be united with you through Christ our Lord.
OXYGEN 
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