Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. “He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake . . . to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water” (St. Gregory Nazianzen, Liturgy of the Hours, I, 634).
The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters.
Jesus’ immersion in the water is a sign for all human beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s will. Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father.
By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin—Original and actual—and begin to live a new life with God.
Source: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments/baptism/
- Baptisms are conducted on the 1st , 3rd & 4th Sundays of the month at 1:30 p.m. and at Masses as scheduled.
- Baptism Preparation Class is held on the first Friday of the month.
- Please make arrangements by calling the Parish Office (732-922-4242).