General. The feast recalls the grace which we have received through our baptism and is a harbinger of the Easter joy towards which, after this joyful season, we shall now start moving. The waters of the Jordan represented death in old Jewish biblical interpretation, but once Jesus entered them He destroyed the Leviathan (devilish monster) which was encompassed within them and gave them back their restorative and purifying powers. It was a condescension for Jesus to be baptized under John’s hands, but even this reminds us of the death Jesus had to go through to acquire the glory which the Father bestowed upon him in the Resurrection. The Eucharist, which we can only receive after our baptism, makes us participate in this kenosis and resurrection with Christ the Saviour.

Isaiah. After being baptised, the Christian, who now adopts the name and the life of Jesus, must live in Christ’s footsteps. The prophet, way back before the coming of Jesus as Incarnate Son on earth, had given a picture of what the Son of God would look like, humble and not self-assertive above all else. Today, two millennia after the Father visited his people through His Son, Isaiah’s portrait is an identikit of the true Christian who has to live in and wade through this age of omnipresent arrogance.

Psalm. The Psalmist sings the praise of the Almighty Lord and His Name. A person’s name has always bore great importance in Jewish tradition, and so calling the name of the Lord shows acceptance of Him as our God and of his power over nature.

Acts of the Apostles. St Peter speaks of God’s acceptance of those who have fear of Him and walk in the right path, be they Jews or heathen. Jesus was consecrated with the Spirit and Power in his baptism, just as we are when we become Christians through our baptism. We are then expected to walk in his foot-steps, gently bringing about peace to all those who suffer, from sin especially, because now God is with us, the Emmanuel.

Matthew. The recount of the Baptism of Our Lord shows John’s humility, recognizing that he was only the forerunner and that he could not consequently expect any better. The baptism which he gave was only with water, but Jesus’ baptism was to fill a person with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father Himself recognized His Son’s humility and condescension saying He was well pleased in Him, starting as it was his public life in obedience to His Will. It was this same obedience which led to Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection.

Christmas Readings from the Church Fathers

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