January 9, 2010

Commentary

Baptism of the Lord
Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

The Way God Prepares Things

The Gospel for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, in a sense, brings to a close the first part of Luke's Gospel. The end of the story of Jesus' birth and childhood is the beginning of the reports on his adult life.

Here, John the Baptist fulfills his mission, the mission the angel told his father with the announcement of his conception (Luke 1:16-17).

And here, John testifies to all the presence of the Messiah. God affirms that testimony by publically announcing that Jesus is God's beloved Son. This message previously was made known privately to Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna (Luke chapters 1 & 2).
[1]

That is a brief example of how God plans, prepares, and "in the fullness of time" fulfills God's plan of love and salvation.

In the same way, nothing in our lives is accidental. We are God's beloved sons and daughters. And God prepares well to make that happen.

I should ask myself, "Do I believe that God has a unique plan for me?" and "Do I believe that God prepares me well for that plan?"


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[1] Luke Timothy Johnson, The Gospel of Luke. Sacra Pagina Series. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991. p. 67.

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