THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (FEAST)

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

If you were standing in line at the River Jordan and heard John the Baptist say these words, what would you have thought? Perhaps you would have been confused—what did John mean? But what if you had actually witnessed Jesus coming out of the water, and “the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him” (Mark 1:10)? Then you might have understood that Jesus was the One who was being baptized in the Spirit and who would, in turn, baptize his followers.

The word “baptize” in Greek means to “immerse” or to “plunge.” As the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus was already united with the Spirit. But this “plunging” at the beginning of his ministry empowered him to go out and preach, teach, and heal—and eventually to fulfill his mission to offer his life on the cross and reconcile us to his Father. As he promised, after his resurrection, he would send the Spirit to his disciples and all who would believe in him (John 14:15-17).

That’s what happened to you at your Baptism, even if you were too young to remember it. You received the Holy Spirit. But Baptism is just the beginning of our journey with the Lord. In order to follow Jesus, we all need to be immersed in the Spirit again and again. That’s because, as he himself told us, “It is the spirit that gives life” (John 6:63).

How does the Spirit give us life? He fills us with joy and animates our prayer and worship. He helps us see our sin and repent. He gives us the strength and grace to be a disciple. And he gives us the gifts we need to share the good news.

Jesus said that God “does not ration his gift of the Spirit” (John 3:34). God always has more for us. There’s no limit to how many times you can ask to be immersed into the life of the Spirit. Today, on this feast celebrating the Baptism of the Lord, ask the Holy Spirit to once again plunge you more deeply into his life. Pray expectantly, and believe that the One who gives all good gifts—especially the gift of the Spirit—will give you what you ask for!

“Holy Spirit, fill me with more of your life today.”

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10
Mark 1:7-11