For many people today's feast poses a question: why did Jesus, the sinless one, go to John for baptism. We know that John preached a baptism for repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Why, then, should Jesus go forward to be baptised?

The baptism of Jesus is not an expression of repentance or an asking for forgiveness. Matthew alludes to this in the dialogue he reports between Jesus and John. Like the Epiphany, it is a feast of manifestation. Here we see who Jesus really is: He is the "Beloved Son" of the Father. The voice from heaven echoes the words of Isaiah, quoted in our first reading.

In stepping down into the waters of the Jordan, Jesus enters into communion of life with sinners, going down to the very depths of our human condition. He steps down into our world not just to experience our condition but to transform it from within by the 'good news of salvation'.

Our baptism involves repentance in the form of renunciation of sin and leads to a new outpouring of divine life. In virtue of our baptism, we are called to show forth the presence of Jesus in our world and reveal His love to those who do not know Him.