Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the day the Lord Jesus heard the voice of His heavenly Father calling Him “My Son”. This experience was the fuel that pushed the Lord Jesus throughout the 3 years of His ministry and gave Him the grace to walk to the cross. Each time He had to heal the sick or raise the dead, the Lord Jesus would have thought back to this moment when the Father said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” The Father in heaven confirmed to the Lord Jesus that He was indeed the Son of God; He was loved by God and God was pleased with Him.

The Lord Jesus drew strength from this experience and was able to do miracles and suffer and die on the cross because He knew He was the Son of God, loved by God and that God was pleased with His life. In the same way, today the Lord is calling us to have this same relationship with the Father and to draw self-worth, value, love, and a sense of belonging from God and not from the world around us. This experience we have in prayer can fuel our lives and give us strength to face whatever life has to offer.

Today’s First Readings in Isiah 42:1 says, “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.” The Lord Jesus was the chosen one and the servant God delighted in. As I was praying about this verse, I realized I too need to learn what these characteristics were, so I too could bring delight to God my Father. Verse 1 says, “I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.”

The Lord Jesus had the Spirit of the Lord upon Him. We too must be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Verse 2 says, “He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.” The Lord only spoke what the Father wanted Him to say. He was quiet when He needed to be and spoke when He heard the Father. He was in-tune with His Father. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice” (v.3). The Lord Jesus was gentle with people. “He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope” (v.4). He wanted to help poor and disadvantaged people. We too can help others who are suffering in the world. These are some of the ways we can become a servant that God delights in.

Prayer: Abba Father, I pray for Your grace to become Your child whom You are pleased with and delight in. Show me the way. Amen.