Joyous feast! Christ is baptized! Two thousand years ago, the innocent Lamb, harmless, sinless, and spotless, was plunged into the waters of the Jordan. A dove flew down, and a voice was heard, and the worship of the Trinity, as we sing, was made manifest. At that time, John bore witness, but now the whole world is witness to these things. Once, the streams of the Jordan were sanctified, but now the priesthood of Christ blesses waters the world over. And there is one more parallel: immediately after his baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness. Likewise, even as we bask in the radiance of this feast, we begin to turn the attention of our hearts toward the coming forty days of Lent. Having beheld the manifestation of God, our proper response is preparation for humble retreat into repentance, fasting, and prayer.
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