redhawk outside our window

The Baptism of the Lord

Baptism Mt 3:13-17

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Today is the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. One of the aspects of the reading of this event that is most striking to me is the presence of the Holy Trinity. The Lord is humbly offering self in order to fulfill the plan that is for the good..."all righteousness" Here again in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is speaking to us of the fulfillment of God's plan. After the baptism, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus. The Holy Spirit is described as a dove. I need to meditate more on the meaning today of a descending dove as a description of the Holy Spirit. God, the Father, voices approval of Jesus, the beloved Son.