A Note From

Rev. Joe Koyickal

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which brings the Christmas season to a close & opens the door to Jesus’ public ministry. At the Jordan River, Jesus steps into the waters to be baptized, not because He needed repentance, but to identify fully with us & to reveal who He is.

In the Gospel, we hear the father’s voice: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This moment reveals who he is & what his mission is. Jesus is God’s beloved Son,

anointed by the Holy Spirit, sent to bring healing, hope, & new life to the world.

The readings remind us that Jesus did not come with power or force, but with gentleness, compassion, & mercy. He revealed to us the human face of God. Isaiah speaks of God’s servant who brings justice, opens blind eyes, & sets captives free. In Acts, Peter reminds us that God shows no favoritism & that Jesus went about doing good & healing all who were in need. So, anyone can approach him in faith & experience his saving love. It is also an invitation to exclude no one, but to share this love.

This feast also reminds us of & invites us to reflect on our own baptism. At baptism, we were claimed by God, washed clean, filled with the Holy Spirit, & called God’s beloved sons & daughters. Indeed, we are! Our baptism is not just something that happened long ago but it is the foundation of our faith journey & shapes how we live each day as his sons & daughters.

Our baptism challenges us to be dead to sin & to be alive to God. This means we are called to live as Jesus lived: in love & forgiveness; to choose kindness over anger, to seek justice &

peace, to reach out to those who feel forgotten, & to live with trust that we belong to God.

As we begin this new season of Ordinary Time, may this feast remind us of who we are & whose we are & what we are called to be. May we live each day as people baptized in

Christ-loved, forgiven, & sent to share that love & forgiveness with others. 

Blessings of peace and joy always! 

Fr. Joe