When talking or writing about Jesus’ baptism, some of the Early Church Fathers talked about the water of the river being blessed by Jesus. For example, Saint Maximus of Turin (who lived circa 380-465) said: “Christ is baptized, not to be made holy by the water, but to make the water holy, and by his cleansing to purify the waters which he touched. For the consecration of Christ involves a more significant consecration of the water.”
This quotation suggests that there is a consecration, a blessing, of Jesus here – and not only a blessing of the water. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Peter mentions Jesus’ baptism, and then Peter talks about “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power” (10:38). Jesus’ baptism can be seen as a moment of him being blessed, being anointed, by God the Father; a moment of receiving the Holy Spirit and connecting with the Father in a particularly strong way. I would see this moment as one of Jesus being confirmed in his identity and his mission. Then he is sent out to begin his public ministry.
So is this also a moment of the water being blessed, as well as Jesus being blessed? In my own words I would say that John the Baptist, and the water, and all of Creation participated in that special, sacred moment.
Related to the blessing of water, my thoughts turn to holy water. I think we can fairly say that all water is holy and sacred and a gift of the Creator. But what about water that is blessed by a bishop, priest, or deacon, and then called “holy water”? Well, perhaps we can say that this water is extra-blessed, or that there is something special about it. Saint Teresa of Avila wrote: “From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again.”
May we too receive the blessings of Jesus’ baptism, as we reflect on that scene and that special moment.
Fr. Paul Robson SJ