Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/479

 baptize with  the  Holy  Ghost  (John  i,  33). The voice  of  God  the  Father proved that  this  Jesus,  who  had  just  received  baptism  like  a sinful  son of Adam,  was  indeed  the  beloved  Son  of  the  Father,  in  whom,  in  the days of  His  humiliation,  His  Father  was  well-pleased.

The Mystery  of  the  Blessed  Trinity.  Even  in  the  Old  Testament there were  several  intimations  given  that  there  are  more  Persons  than one in  God. “The Spirit  of  God  moved  over  the  waters.”  Let  us make  man  to  our  image  and  likeness.”  “I  will  be  to  Him  a Father, and He  will  be  My  Son.”  Now,  in  the  New  Testament,  the  mystery was fully  revealed. The angel  Gabriel  said:  “The  Holy  which  shall be born  of  thee. . . shall be  called  the  Son  of  God.”  This  revelation, however, was  made  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  alone. In the  story  we  have just read,  the  mystery  of  One  God  in  Three  Persons  is  for  the  first time proclaimed  publicly  and  solemnly. God the  Father  speaks  from heaven; God  the  Son,  in  human  form,  stands  in  the  Jordan;  and God the  Holy  Ghost,  under  the  form  of  a dove,  hovers  over  thejhead of Jesus.

Jesus, the Anointed.  The  visible  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon Jesus showed  that  in  Him  dwelt  the  fulness  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and that, being  the  one  great  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King,  He  is  indeed  the Anointed, the  Christ. In this  way  Jesus  solemnly  entered  on  His  public work of  Redemption. The kings  and  priests  of  the  Old  Testament were anointed  with  oil,  and,  by  this  unction,  endued  with  the  graces necessary for  their  state;  as,  for  instance  (Old  Test.  L),  you  read that the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon  David  after  Samuel  had  anointed him: but  Jesus  was  anointed  by  the  Holy  Ghost  Himself,  without  the intervention of  the  outward  sign  of  oil. He is,  therefore,  the  Anointed of the  anointed,  the  Christ.

The effects  of  Christian  Baptism.  The  wonderful  events  which followed the  baptism  of  Jesus  directly  foreshadowed  the  wonderful effects of  Christian  Baptism  which  our  Lord  then  instituted. In the Sacrament of  Baptism  the  Holy  Ghost  comes  down  on  man,  gives  him sanctifying grace,  and  implants  in  him  the  three  theological  virtues  of Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity. By the  grace  of  Baptism  God  adopts  man to be  His  beloved  child,  and  opens  for  him  the  way  to  heaven.

The Prayer  of  our  Lord  after  His  baptism  shows  that  we  too ought to  pray  after  receiving  the  holy  Sacraments;  that  is,  we  ought to thank  God  for  the  grace  received,  and  pray  for  perseverance  in grace  and  good  works.

Humility. St.  John  showed  his  humility  by  the  words:  “I  ought to be  baptized  by  Thee,  and  comest  Thou  to  me?”

The dove  is  the  type  of  innocence.  The  Holy  Ghost  appeared  under the form  of  a dove  to  show  that  Jesus  is  the  Innocent  and  Beloved  One in whom  His  Father  was  well-pleased;  for  the  dove  is  the  symbol  of innocence,  love  and  gentleness.