By Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

In the beginning, the “Spirit hovered over the waters” (Genesis 1:2). But Creation fell with Adam’s sin. At Christ’s Baptism, water is made new. The Law of Moses foreshadowed Christ’s Baptism. Levitical priests were washed in water before their consecration (Leviticus 8:6). “Whenever [Levites] enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die” (Exodus 30:20). Ezekiel saw water foreshadowing Pentecost: “I saw water flowing eastward from the Temple’s threshold… The water flowed toward the right side of the Temple…” (Ezekiel 47:1). Christ’s Baptism makes the waters potent for giving the Holy Spirit in Baptism. “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Christ’s Baptism begins his public mission. Baptism begins ours!

St. Maximums of Turin (5th century) wrote: “Christ is baptized not to be made holy by the water, but to make the water holy by touching it… For the consecration of Christ involves a more significant consecration of the water.” Today’s Feast of the Lord’s Baptism concludes the Christmas Season. However, the Light of Christmastide shines through the feast of the Presentation on February 2 (forty days after Christmas). At Our Lady of Lourdes, we will keep our Manger Scene up through the Presentation.

On Making the Waters Holy, by Saint Proclus of Constantinople (5th Century)

[Christ] sanctified the fountains of waters and enlightened the minds of men. Into the fabric of miracles, he interwove ever greater miracles. For on this day land and sea share between them the grace of the Savior, and the whole world is filled with joy. Today’s feast of the Epiphany manifests even more wonders than the feast of Christmas. On the feast of the Savior’s birth, the earth rejoiced because it bore the Lord in a manger; but on today’s feast of the Epiphany it is the sea that is glad and leaps for joy; the sea is glad because it receives the blessing of holiness in the river Jordan. At Christmas we saw a weak baby, giving proof of our weakness. In today’s feast, we see a perfect man, hinting at the perfect Son who proceeds from the all-perfect Father. At Christmas the King puts on the royal robe of his body; at Epiphany the very source enfolds and, as it were, clothes the river.