From today’s reading...
Now it happened that when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened…” Luke 3:21
Why do we see Mary bring the infant Jesus to the Temple for purification (Luke 2:23-24), and why does Jesus get baptized if He is God?
Did Jesus need cleansing?
Did He need the Holy Spirit?
In Romans chapter 14, we are given some insight into these questions.
Verse 13 says, “Let us each stop passing judgement, therefore, on one another and decide instead that none of us will place obstacles in any brother’s way, or anything that can bring him down.”
Skipping ahead to verse 15, we read, “And indeed, if through any kind of food you are causing offence to a brother, then you are no longer being guided by love. You are not to let the food that you eat cause the ruin of anyone for whom Christ died.”
So Mary brings Jesus to the Temple, and Jesus allows Himself to be baptized to both not cause scandal and give merit to the practices.
How many times do we see a celebrity or athlete mention their diet, and suddenly it’s the talk of the town?
Jesus did not come to us to be saved. He came to us to show us how to be saved, and He gave us the tools, the processes, the means by which we can participate in our salvation because that is what we are created and called to do.
Jesus willingly took on the burdens placed on Him, even the unwarranted, underserved one.
Especially those.
And in doing so, He showed us the exact steps—and the rewards—we need to take to...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Now go sell something.
