The Baptism of the Lord
Today we commemorate the Baptism of Jesus Christ by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Although it was not necessary for Jesus to be baptized, He does so as an example for us and an exercise in humility. As today Jesus prepares to begin His public ministry this is the last day of the Christmas season and the beginning of Ordinary Time. The color white or gold is used liturgically to symbolize the glory of God and the purity of Christ. Typically the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated liturgically the Sunday after Epiphany or January 13th in some places. When the Epiphany falls on the 7th or 8th it’s moved to the Monday after (January 8th or 9th). Since this feast begins Ordinary Time, the Sunday after the feast is the second Sunday of Ordinary Time no matter the date. Christ’s Baptism in other denominations of Christianity are celebrated with the Feast of the Epiphany as Christ's Baptism and His first miracle, the Wedding at Cana are all Theophanies, revelations of God. The W...