Daily Mass Gospel Refection - The Baptism Of The Lord

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
Matthew 3:13–17

Friends, Matthew’s account of Jesus’ baptism
points to the significance of this foundational sacrament.

Listen to the great theologian Gregory of Nazianzen:
“Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift. . .
It is called ‘gift’ because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own;
‘grace’ since it is given even to the guilty.”
Jesus said, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.”
Baptism is the sacramental ratification of that choice.

And this is why we speak of Baptism as justifying us and washing away our sin.
We are—all of us—born into a deeply dysfunctional world, a world conditioned by millenia
of selfishness, cruelty, injustice, stupidity, and fear.
This has created a poisonous atmosphere that conditions all of our thoughts and moves and actions.

Do you see why the stress on grace is so important?
Baptism is the moment when the Holy Spirit draws us out of this fallen world and into a new world,
the very life of the Trinity.
That’s why Baptism involves being born again, lifted up, enlightened, transformed, saved—
and why the Church speaks of the baptized as a “new creature.”

+++Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”+++

Baptism is indeed the way to gain entrance to The Kingdom of God. I am different than some people and believe that the Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ is a gift that nobody deserves or commands. Christ took upon Himself the sins of the whole world and allowed Himself to be punished for them even though He Himself never sinned. Adam and Eve learned the hard way that there is punishment for sin. That punishment is death, that is spiritual death or separation from God and physical death or mortality. We suffer the same punishment for sins as did Adam and Eve. Unlike Christ we are not God and cannot overcome death as He did. Because He did take my punishment in my place His Grace is His to offer or withhold.

I feel that there will be many who stand before Him on the day of Judgment and complain about the Grace they were promised but were not receiving. Grace is conditional on Christ giving it, no man judges himself and decides he is worthy of Grace, it is not ours to give but only The Saviors. If we are baptized and follow The Savior, repent of our sins, then it will be enough and His Grace will be sufficient for all of us that do those things. Do them not or continue sinful ways after entering into the kingdom and I think your chances of receiving Grace are pretty small. Christ will take away our sins but not if we still want them.

Very nice add to the post-
Thanks.

I am different than some people and believe that
the Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ
is a gift that nobody deserves or commands.

I would say that anyone who does think differently than you on this,
Would have a hard time being considered a Christian...

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