The Baptism of Our Lord (First Sunday after the Epiphany)

[Augsburg1530]

Matthew 3:13-17: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Warning! Big church word alert!
“Righteousness.” What is it? What does it mean? If you hear that word in the
Bible or your pastor tosses it out in a sermon or something, what does it mean?
Jesus answers that question today and He does it quite simply. He shows up to
be baptized by John the Baptist. Now, John knows that Jesus is sinless; He’s
the spotless Lamb of God. So why on earth should Jesus be getting baptized,
something which was for sinners? Jesus says, “Let it to be so now, for thus it
is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
“Righteousness” is, simply, Jesus taking your place. He comes to
suffer FOR you and INSTEAD of you. When Jesus gets in the water, He’s
saying, “I’m going to be a sinner, too. Not with my own sins, but with yours. And
I’ll take them to the cross and get rid of them for you.”
Righteousness is Jesus living for you. Keeping the commandments for
you. Loving God the Father with all His heart for you. Loving others as Himself
for you. Healing and preaching and teaching and fighting the devil. All for you.
Righteousness is Jesus suffering for you. On the cross. Loaded down
with your sins. Your suffering. Your punishment. Your judgment under the Law
of God. Your death.
Righteousness is Jesus rising from the dead for you. Conquering sin
and death for you. Throwing down the powers of hell for you.
Righteousness is Jesus taking your place and giving you His. He
covers you with His righteousness in Baptism and makes all He did yours. He,
Himself, lives in you through His Body and Blood. Jesus for you. In the Name of
Jesus. Amen.

O God, our heavenly Father, whose voice was heard at the baptism of Your
only-begotten Son, declaring Him to be the one with whom You are well pleased,
pour down Your Holy Spirit upon Your faithful people that we may
rejoice in this same sonship that we have received from You through our
baptism into Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the same Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Iam very impressed to learn your following the Catholic Liturgical calender?

The biblical righteousness has a very deep meaning here; It references the plan of God which is to fulfill God’s will and designs.The baptism of John is a stage in salvation history foretold by God as a final preparation for the messianic era. Each one of these stages is considered an biblical act of “Righteousness”.

To fulfill all righteousness if to “fulfill everything laid down by God”, which includes the Old covenant and prophets. Which is realized in the body of Christ in the Church Triumphant (in heaven) and Church militant (on earth), especially in the sacraments when the finger of God touches our humanity.

Peace be with you