St Gregory Nazianzen: The Baptism of Christ

Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptised; let us also go down with him, and rise with him.

CHESAPEAKE, VA. (Catholic Online) - We present the reading from the "Office of Readings in the "Liturgy of the Hours", also called the "Breviary" or "Divine Office". We do so because it is the reading on which members of the Church, the Risen Body of Christ, will be reflecting upon in every Nation throughout the whole world. We stand in solidarity with one another in this wonderful communion of the Church. It is where we live our lives now, in Christ and with one another. In the solidarity we share in Him, we go into the world on mission, to transform it from within.

We offer this reading so also to encourage our readers around the world, lay, religious, or clergy, to heed the encouragement of our holy mother, the Church, and pray the "Liturgy of the Hours". Since the Second Vatican Council, all of the faithful, not only clergy and religious, are encouraged to do so.It is food for the journey and light for the path. It strengthens us in our mission and inspires us to live out our Baptismal vocation in every state in life. And, as you will find when you read this beauthful selection from the Cappadocian father, Gregory Nazianzen, it opens our eyes and hearts to extraordinary sermons from great leaders of the Church to whom we are joined in the Communion of Saints:

A sermon by St Gregory Nazianzen, The Baptism of Christ

Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptised; let us also go down with him, and rise with him.

John is baptising when Jesus draws near. Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptiser; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters. He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spirit and flesh comes to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water.

The Baptist protests; Jesus insists. Then John says: I ought to be baptised by you. He is the lamp in the presence of the sun, the voice in the presence of the Word, the friend in the presence of the Bridegroom, the greatest of all born of woman in the presence of the firstborn of all creation, the one who leapt in his mother's womb in the presence of him who was adored in the womb, the forerunner and future forerunner in the presence of him who has already come and is to come again. I ought to be baptised by you: we should also add, "and for you," for John is to be baptised in blood, washed clean like Peter, not only by the washing of his feet.

Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him. The heavens, like Paradise with its flaming sword, closed by Adam for himself and his descendants, are rent open. The Spirit comes to him as to an equal, bearing witness to his Godhead. A voice bears witness to him from heaven, his place of origin. The Spirit descends in bodily form like the dove that so long ago announced the ending of the flood and so gives honour to the body that is one with God.

Today let us do honour to Christ's baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received - though not in its fullness - a ray of its splendour, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

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