Sunday, January 13, 2008

Baptism of the Lord

Today, Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, which we consider to be the final day of the Christmas season in the liturgical year. (So, it's OK if you still have your tree and decorations up.)


Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

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.”

Then he allowed him.

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him.

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

An aside: To see Franco Zeffirelli's depiction of Jesus' baptism from the television epic, "Jesus of Nazareth," go to The Deacon's Bench.

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