By Newton Basumatari csc –
Readings: Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Tit 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Lk 3: 15-16, 21-22
God has a unique mission for everyone. It could be for spreading love, helping people in need, listening to those who are facing problems in their lives, or giving them words of encouragement and consolation. And when we do his mission, we find inner happiness which lasts forever. Today, the baptism of Jesus reminds me of my mission. To begin his public ministry, Jesus was baptized by John.
In the first reading, we have heard about the voice in wilderness which reminds people about the moral life they need to live and their responsibility in reminding others about the moral life that God is asking them to live. To continue his mission, we need to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion and live with self-control in an upright way as explained by St. Paul.
The Baptism of Jesus is an indication that Jesus is going to begin his mission. His mission is to spread love, console the people who are disturbed, give peace to the people who are rejected by society and help people build relationship with God so that they might have life eternal. Through baptism in Christ, I share the same mission. But often I fail to do this mission because it demands sacrifice, asks me to give up my desires, and requires a lot of discipline and selfcontrol.
Today, the baptism of Jesus reminds me of my responsibility to carry out his mission in this world. To continue his mission, I need his strength. Therefore, let my prayer be, ‘Lord let your Holy Spirit always be my guide in continuing your mission’.