Luke 3:15-16,21-22 NRSVue
15As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
21Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”,
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Reflection on Luke 3:15-16,21-22
Inspiration from 2025-01-12 Daily Prayer
John preached repentance and the washing away of sins through baptism in water. As God, Jesus did not need to be baptised, but in his human nature as representing all of humanity he is baptised and receives the Holy Spirit coming down like a dove upon him. He can be seen as the first of the new creation God is forming. ‘If anyone is in Jesus Christ he/she is a new creation’ (1 Corinthians 15:27).
Let us pray for the renewal of the graces of our baptism, and to live the new life that Christ has won for us by his life, death and resurrection.