M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At the Baptism of Jesus (and the Gospel does not tell us whether Mary was present or not) we hear the great humility of Jesus, willing to be seen among sinners going to John the Baptist to be baptized. If Mary was there or heard about it from neighbors, I wonder if she thought as John the Baptist did, it should be Jesus baptizing John and not the other way around. Nevertheless Jesus told John: “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” Then John consented. “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3)
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan as an example for us to see - not that He needed cleansing – but that we do. All mankind was under the original sin of Adam and Eve but Jesus came to destroy the death their sin had brought into the world. Mary did not need to be baptized for by the privilege of her Immaculate Conception in view of her becoming the Mother of God, she was already freed from all sin by the victory of her Son. But we – how often do we think of our Baptism and live it? Mary certainly remained ever faithful to the graces she was given and continually grew in grace. She watched and listened to her Son and learned from Him, as all need to learn the Truth of Who God is and who we are in His sight. At our Baptism God cleanses us from all sin and He sees each one as His unique child born again into a new life in His Son Jesus. We are God’s adopted sons and daughters in His Beloved Son, in Whom He is well pleased. Are we alive to this? Or are we alive only to the “praise of men”? Let us be careful, by God’s grace to seek God’s will always with Jesus and Mary, by the power of His Holy Spirit.
On this Friday, let us learn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus the humility we need as Mary our humble Mother continued to learn on this earth.
Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make our hearts like Yours.
Mary most humble of all the daughters of God, pray for us.
Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love, enable us to be and to grow more humble today.
The above quote is taken from the book The Interior Life of Jesus and Mary, Vol. 1 by Fr. Grou, SJ and is the conclusion to his chapter on the Baptism of Jesus, Chapter 18, pp 148-9. The author ttries to stay very close to Scripture and I greatly appreciate that. He does, however, also try to draw from the Gospels lessons for his own interior life and for us to learn for ourselves as well. All the saints and spiritual writers agree that the foundation for any relationship with God, any true prayer, must begin with humility. Jesus tells us “Learn of Me for I am meek and humble of Heart” (Mt. 11)
At the Baptism of Jesus (and the Gospel does not tell us whether Mary was present or not) we hear the great humility of Jesus, willing to be seen among sinners going to John the Baptist to be baptized. If Mary was there or heard about it from neighbors, I wonder if she thought as John the Baptist did, it should be Jesus baptizing John and not the other way around. Nevertheless Jesus told John: “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” Then John consented. “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3)
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan as an example for us to see - not that He needed cleansing – but that we do. All mankind was under the original sin of Adam and Eve but Jesus came to destroy the death their sin had brought into the world. Mary did not need to be baptized for by the privilege of her Immaculate Conception in view of her becoming the Mother of God, she was already freed from all sin by the victory of her Son. But we – how often do we think of our Baptism and live it? Mary certainly remained ever faithful to the graces she was given and continually grew in grace. She watched and listened to her Son and learned from Him, as all need to learn the Truth of Who God is and who we are in His sight. At our Baptism God cleanses us from all sin and He sees each one as His unique child born again into a new life in His Son Jesus. We are God’s adopted sons and daughters in His Beloved Son, in Whom He is well pleased. Are we alive to this? Or are we alive only to the “praise of men”? Let us be careful, by God’s grace to seek God’s will always with Jesus and Mary, by the power of His Holy Spirit.
On this Friday, let us learn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus the humility we need as Mary our humble Mother continued to learn on this earth.
Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make our hearts like Yours.
Mary most humble of all the daughters of God, pray for us.
Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love, enable us to be and to grow more humble today.