Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health Vailankanni

"Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him." The Savior received baptism at the hands of John for three reasons. The first because, being born a man he wished to fulfil all the humble prescriptions of the Law. The second so as to affirm John's baptism by his own baptism. The third, so as to make known by means of the descent of the dove when he sanctified the waters of the Jordan, the coming of the Holy Spirit in the baptism of the faithful. “Allow it now." "Now" was well said to show that, if Christ had to be baptized in water, John had to be so by Christ in the Spirit. Or else, another meaning: “Allow it now" because I who have assumed the form of a slave wish to complete by it all humility. But also, know that on the day of judgement you are to be baptized with my baptism. “Allow it now," the Lord says, I have also another baptism with which I must be baptized. [This refers to the baptism of the Passion. Cf. Lk 12:50]. You baptize me in water in order that I may baptize you for myself in your blood. [This refers to John's baptism of martyrdom]. "For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” He did not add: righteousness of the Law or of the natural order that we might understand them both. If God received baptism from a man, let no one judge it unworthy to receive it from a companion in servitude. "And behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him.…" It is the mystery of the Trinity that is manifested in this baptism. The Lord is baptized; the Holy Spirit descends under the appearance of a dove; and the voice of the Father is heard bearing witness to his Son. The heavens were opened, not in the sense that the elements split apart but to the eyes of the spirit, those eyes with which Ezekiel also saw them open as he relates at the beginning of his book (Ez 1:1). The dove comes to rest on the head of Jesus so that no one could think that the Father's words were addressed to John and not to Jesus.

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The baptism of Jesus

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