We have arrived at the official end of the Christmas season. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of Christmas and the beginning of Winter Ordinary Time. This year, we have a shorter span between Christmas and Lent, but the readings afford us the opportunity to reflect on the early days of Jesus’ ministry.
The Baptism of Jesus highlights the fact that He has been commissioned to do the work of God. God the Father Himself blesses Jesus by calling Him “my beloved Son.” When we are baptized, we, too, are called beloved sons and daughters of God. Our mission, similar to that of Jesus, is to “bring forth justice to the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and, from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” In other words, we are challenged to give people hope and to work for peace in our world. Like the apostles, we follow in the footsteps of the Lord by doing good.
While Christmas is officially over, the work of Christmas continues. We are invited to proclaim the Gospel in both word and deed to all nations by being Christ for others.
