When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father bore witness to You and called You His beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ, our God, who have appeared and enlightened the world, glory to You!
(Troparion of the Feast, Tone I)
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to the Apostle and Evangelist St. Matthew (Mt 3:13-17):
At that time, Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?" Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He came up out of the water. At that moment, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Reflection
Brothers and sisters in the Lord, peace and blessings to you all!
Today, we celebrate the Holy Theophany, one of the most significant feasts in the Orthodox liturgical calendar. It is the day when the Lord revealed Himself as the Triune God, manifesting His fullness in His Baptism by John in the Jordan River. In this sacred event, our Savior revealed Himself not only as the Son of God but as the One who comes to sanctify all creation.
Theophany, which we commemorate today, holds a profound significance. The term "Theophany" comes from the Greek and means "manifestation of God." This is not just a simple revelation but an extraordinary act in which God reveals Himself in His fullness: the Father speaks with His voice, the Son immerses Himself in the waters, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove. In this event, the entire Trinity is revealed in its unity and distinction.
It is important to note that Theophany is not the same as Epiphany. The Epiphany marks God’s revelation through the star that guided the Magi, the revelation of the Savior to the Gentiles. The Theophany, on the other hand, is the direct manifestation of God through the Incarnation of the Son and His immersion in the waters, an event that unveils the universal plan of salvation.
Today’s Gospel recounts a pivotal moment in Jesus’ life: His Baptism in the Jordan River. Jesus, who was pure and sinless, had no need for purification. Yet, He submitted to baptism by John to fulfill all righteousness, as the Evangelist Matthew writes. Here, Christ not only humbles Himself by accepting a baptism of repentance but also inaugurates the process of sanctification for all who follow Him in faith.
John’s baptism was one of repentance, preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. But Christian baptism, inaugurated by Christ in the Jordan, is fundamentally different: it is a baptism that grants regeneration and participation in a new life—the life Christ offers us through His death and resurrection. Christ's Baptism marks the beginning of salvation, not just for Israel but for all humanity, and introduces us to the mystery of death and resurrection, which will be fulfilled on the Cross.
A central aspect of today’s feast is the sanctification of the waters. When Jesus descended into the Jordan, He did not need purification from the waters but instead sanctified them. This act holds profound symbolic and sacramental significance: through His Baptism, the Lord purified and sanctified all waters, making them a channel of grace. This sanctification extends beyond the waters of the Jordan to every spring, stream, river, lake, and sea, which, through the Church's prayer, become symbols of the baptism that purifies us from sin and fills us with divine grace.
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem reminds us that through Christ’s Baptism, “the waters were made capable of bearing the power of sanctification and salvation” (Catechetical Lectures, 3). The sanctification of the waters is not merely a ritual but a sign of the redemption God has brought to all creation.
In the Orthodox Church, baptism is not only an act of purification but also one that incorporates us into the mystical Body of Christ, the Church. It is the sacrament that unites us with Christ’s death and resurrection, making us reborn as children of God, as Saint Paul teaches in his letter to Titus. Baptism is the gateway to salvation and eternal life.
Many years ago, when I received Orthodox baptism as a former Catholic, I experienced profound renewal. Although I had already been baptized as a child, the Orthodox baptism deepened my understanding of the mystery of salvation and regeneration. The Orthodox Church teaches that while baptism is a singular act, it is a journey that must be continuously renewed. It is an invitation to immerse ourselves in the life of Christ, living in the holiness and grace granted to us.
Beloved brothers and sisters, the feast of Theophany calls us to renew our baptism and bring to life the grace we have received. Our baptism is not merely a past event but a present reality that we must live daily. As Saint John Chrysostom writes, “Baptism is not merely an act of purification but an act that unites us with Christ and makes us partakers of His divine life” (Homily on Baptism, 3).
Today, let us renew our faith, remembering that through baptism, we were washed, purified, and made children of God. May our journey be one of holiness, and may our lives, like the waters of the Jordan, become instruments of salvation for others.
Glory to You, O Christ, who have enlightened the world through Your Theophany! Glory to You, who have called us to salvation, now and forever, unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Archpriest Michele Alberto Del Duca.
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