Reflection by Luke Fuller
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Being totally honest, when I first arrived at the Jordan River, I was underwhelmed. This setting for the larger-than-life moment of the Baptism of the Lord always was a grand stage in my mind. It was one of the few sites in the Holy Land that I had envisioned in my mind before arrival; I pondered artists’ depictions that tended to make the scene look abundant and beautiful. As is the case with many parts of my faith, my expectations were far off. I came upon a small, muddy, brush lined river in the middle of the desert. “This is it?” Yes, it is, and it is more than I could understand in a lifetime.
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Here in the Jordan, Jesus is baptized by John, and yet, we know that Jesus had no Original Sin to wash or relationship with the Father to restore. I am struck that we are the ones so desperately in need of the Sacrament of Baptism, and I feel grateful for my own Baptism. I also realize more profoundly the importance of the desert in my spiritual journey.
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In Mark’s Gospel, we learn that after Jesus is baptized, he is driven by the Spirit to the desert where he remains for 40 days (Mk. 1:10-13). In a sense, in Lent, we are called to walk the Lord’s path and be strengthened by our Baptisms. This season is a time to enter the desert again and come out reborn and rejuvenated in our relationship with God. Of course, it is much easier to say this than to put it into action, for Lent is an especially challenging part of the Church year. The increased devotion to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, amidst the normal difficulties of our world is no small feat. As we journey closer to God, we might be tempted to discouragement, wondering if we are doing enough. We may even be tempted to give up and not continue the journey. In these moments of trial, we look to the Jordan River and consider our own Baptisms. The humble river in the Middle East is parallel to the humble font or basin in which we were baptized. We look to the waters of the river and recall our Baptismal promises which began with a rejection of evil and then a profession of faith in the Triune God.
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The Baptism of the Lord brings a marvelous moment where we witness the relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We recall the dove descending on Jesus, and the voice that cries out: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). Imagine if our journey from the Jordan to the desert, or the desert to the Jordan, might bring us to a deeper union with the entire Trinity, and if we might in our own prayer hear how delighted God is with us.
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Although the Jordan River may be underwhelming compared to the majesty of God, He chose this place as part of His plan. The river reminds me that the significance of Baptism does not lie in the material world. As this Lent begins and we enter the desert, let us gratefully remember our Baptisms, and allow ourselves to be driven by the Spirit to a closer union with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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| Luke Fuller is a Pre-Theology I seminarian for the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J.
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