Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

The Feast Day of the Epiphany of the Lord is January 6th. Epiphany means manifestation. The Church celebrates the manifestation of our Lord to the whole world; after being made known to the shepherds of Bethlehem, He is revealed to the Magi (Three Kings) who have come to adore Him. This Feast encompasses three events that made manifest the mission and divinity of Christ: the Visit of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the Miracle at Cana.

The Baptism of Our Lord

While the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord was originally celebrated as part of Epiphany, in 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted this Feast as a separate Liturgical commemoration on the Sunday following Epiphany. It marks the end of the Christmas Season and the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. This year the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord falls on January 13.

Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist, and in Matthew 3:11, we learn that John is not worthy to untie Jesus' sandal. Jesus insisted that John baptize Him. He brought Himself shoulder to shoulder with us as He began His public ministry; His work of saving us from our sins. Through His baptism, Jesus exemplifies humility.

Jesus’ baptism is also significant in the following ways:

1) Jesus empowers the waters for all future baptisms. 2) The Holy Spirit descended upon Him, as the Holy Spirit does us in our Baptism. 3) Jesus was proclaimed the beloved Son, and in our Baptism we become adopted sons of God. 4) The heavens opened up to Jesus, and through our Baptism, heaven becomes open to us, and afterward 5) Jesus went to the desert to pray after His baptism and refuse the wiles of Satan.