Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, January 11, 2026

As parents we have all experienced moments when we were so proud of our child that we wanted to tell everyone: “That’s my son” or “That’s my daughter.” When my son played high school baseball, I was the stadium announcer. As I read the gospel passage, it made me think how cool it would have been to announce my son as: “Now batting, the pitcher, number 13, my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.” He would have hated it, but it would have been a great way to let everyone know how I felt.

As we celebrate Jesus’ baptism, we remember that Jesus came into the world “to do the work of him that sent him” and to be the light to the nations, the light that overcame the darkness. He is baptized by John the Baptist because God the Father chose this event to publicly introduce Jesus and the Holy Spirit. As Jesus rose from the water, the sky opened, the Spirit descended, and a heavenly voice spoke. All three events reveal not only God's power in baptism, but the sacred relationships of the Trinity.

The heavens opening meant that the God opened His kingdom to His people. The descent of the Holy Spirit reflected the special loving relationship between the Father and the Son. Then voice of God announcing Jesus as His son, removes any doubt about this special gift that God has given to us. The voice from heaven focused upon Jesus who God calls “my Son” with whom He is “well pleased.” In other words, the voice revealed Jesus as the Messiah, God’s Anointed, who is both “beloved” by the Father and very pleasing to the Father.

This moment also introduces the Trinity which is comprised of the one who loves (God the Father), the one who is loved (God the Son), and the manifestation of the love of the Father and the Son (God the Holy Spirit). Through our Baptism, we are invited into the love of the Trinity and we enjoy the presence of the same Spirit.. We become God’s children whom He loves: all day, every day, forever. We may not hear God’s booming voice in the clouds, but we must never forget that we are His beloved sons and daughters, with whom He is well pleased.

Fr. Mike