The Baptism of the Lord A 2026

Welcome! Congratulations!

We have arrived at the Baptism of the Lord. Up until now we have moved through the Christmas season from his nativity to the Epiphany where shepherds and magi and the world were brought to Jesus. The angels announce to the world This is the savior of the world. Rejoice!

And today we celebrate his baptism and our own baptism. For in Christ’s baptism, the Father and Holy Spirit announced this in the Son of God and we are told to listen to him in Marks Gospel and that the Father was pleased with him in Matthew.

 

For you and me, we too carry on this example of baptism. Jesus was baptized to show us the way to the Holy Trinity, to God. And we continue that act of baptism to become adopted sons and daughters of the Father too. And it continued in generation after generation…adding to the kingdom children of the Father. It is a lineage; it is our heritage. And it began with Jesus asking John to baptize him. John didn’t understand why the Messiah would need baptism. But he trusted Jesus and recognized his authority and complied. He followed the instructions and command given.

 

Not because he reasoned it out for himself, but because he did what Jesus said. He followed even without at the time understanding it all.

 

Our own journey can be similar. We may have been baptized as an infant. We may have been baptized as adults. Even as adults, we may not have understood everything Jesus taught yet. And that’s okay. Baptism is the door to eternal life. No one John says in his Gospel can enter into heaven unless he has been baptized by water and the Holy Spirit. That’s why Catholics baptized babies. Because we do not want to withhold eternal life from them. Which is being responsible parents right? To do what is best for their children. Some in our society do not baptize until the age of reason so they can make their own decision, and it is poor parenting at best and terrible decisions at worst where the child is in jeopardy of losing their way.

 

Baptism is the first step to following Jesus. The disciples, John the Baptist, most people he healed, did not understand everything.

 

Jesus doesn’t ask for complete understanding. He just asks us to follow him. The Father in Heaven says to listen to Jesus. The Spirit comes upon us and shows us the way in life. And we continue that education by learning about our faith and Jesus and moving deeper in relationship with him. Always saying yes when we are asked by Jesus to do anything, starting with to love God with all our might and love others as we love ourselves.

 

On this Baptism of the Lord, it is good to remember we don’t have to know everything. We aren’t expected to perceive all the mysteries of the faith.

 

We are just to realize the blessings he gives us and say yes to him. Follow him. Listen to him. He will take care of the rest.