Dialogo e Solstizio

Jan 3, 2026 Written by don Giuseppe Nespeca

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Angolo dell'ottimista

Call to intimate union with divine life

"You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased".

2. The ceremony, which on this typical Sunday of the liturgical cycle we are about to perform, calls to our mind certain truths of essential importance in Christian doctrine.

First of all, it recalls the episode - read in today's Gospel - of the Baptism of Jesus, who wished to include himself, as a penitent, among the followers of John the Baptist in order to receive water baptism from him. Such a rite was a sign of penitence; but Jesus wanted to subject himself to it, to show openly that he accepted the religious message of the people of Israel, expressed in a conclusive way by the last of the Prophets. From Abraham to Moses, to Elijah, to Isaiah, through all the Prophets, up to John the Baptist, along the mysterious and dramatic "history of salvation" the "word of God" had walked with the Jewish people, until it led to the arcane voice from heaven that on Jesus, baptised by John, said: "You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased" (Lk 3:22). In Jesus, the Messiah awaited by the chosen people, the definitive transition from the Old to the New Testament took place, and John the Baptist was its austere and enlightened witness.

But today's Liturgy also and above all emphasises the value of the new Baptism, instituted by Jesus. John the Baptist, announcing the coming of the Messiah, said: 'One is coming who will baptise you in the Holy Spirit and fire'. Jesus, initiating the new 'economy' of salvation, tells the Apostles: 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:18-19). This is the new and definitive Baptism, which eliminates from the soul the "original sin", inherent in human nature fallen through the rejection of love by the first two rational creatures, and restores to the soul the "sanctifying grace", that is, participation in the very life of the Holy Trinity. Every time Baptism is conferred, an amazing and marvellous event takes place; the rite is simple, but the meaning is sublime! The fire of God's creative and redeeming love burns and destroys sin and takes possession of the soul, which becomes the dwelling place of the Most High! The Evangelist St John affirms that Jesus has given us the power to become children of God, because from God we have been begotten (cf. Jn 1:12-13); and St Paul speaks repeatedly of our greatness and dignity as members of the Body of Christ (Col 2:19; Eph 3:11. 17. 19-22; 4:12).

3. Baptism is a supernatural gift, a radical transformation of human nature, the insertion of the soul into the very life of God, the concrete and personal realisation of the Redemption, and therefore consequently commits the baptised person to live in a new way, namely following Christ. It has never been easy to live as a Christian and even less so in modern society. The Church is happy to welcome these newly-baptised children; but she wants the parents, godparents and godmothers, and also the entire community, to take on the serious duties of good example, correct teaching and authentic Christian formation, so that the child in the gradual development of his or her existence may be faithful to his or her baptismal commitments.

4. St Augustine, recalling in the Confessions the episode of his Baptism, writes: 'In those days, all filled with extraordinary sweetness, I was not satisfied with considering the depth of your counsel for the salvation of the human race' (St Augustine, Confessiones, IX, ch. VI). This immense interior joy I also heartily wish for you and for your children, now and for ever, while I invoke the propitiatory intercession of Most Holy Mary, so that by her help the light and candour of Baptism, which these little ones now receive, may shine in them throughout their lives.

[Pope John Paul II, homily January 1983]

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. Today's liturgical feast of the Baptism of the Lord closes the Christmas season, which we observed this year with exceptional fervour and participation. Indeed, the Great Jubilee began on the Holy Night with the opening of the Holy Door in St Peter's.

This Christmas season has offered us a new occasion to recall the "fact" that occurred 20 centuries ago and definitively changed the course of history: Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.

In recalling Jesus' birth, we celebrated the great mystery of Redemption, to which we pay particular attention throughout the course of the Jubilee. The Son of God became man so that man could be raised to the dignity of God's adoptive son.

2. Today's feast of the Baptism of the Lord reminds us of this intimate union with the divine life.

[Pope John Paul II, Angelus 9 January 2000]

71 Last modified on Saturday, 03 January 2026 05:27

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don Giuseppe Nespeca

Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".

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Thus, in the figure of Matthew, the Gospels present to us a true and proper paradox: those who seem to be the farthest from holiness can even become a model of the acceptance of God's mercy and offer a glimpse of its marvellous effects in their own lives (Pope Benedict))

Nella figura di Matteo, dunque, i Vangeli ci propongono un vero e proprio paradosso: chi è apparentemente più lontano dalla santità può diventare persino un modello di accoglienza della misericordia di Dio e lasciarne intravedere i meravigliosi effetti nella propria esistenza (Papa Benedetto)

Man is involved in penance in his totality of body and spirit: the man who has a body in need of food and rest and the man who thinks, plans and prays; the man who appropriates and feeds on things and the man who makes a gift of them; the man who tends to the possession and enjoyment of goods and the man who feels the need for solidarity that binds him to all other men [CEI pastoral note]

Nella penitenza è coinvolto l'uomo nella sua totalità di corpo e di spirito: l'uomo che ha un corpo bisognoso di cibo e di riposo e l'uomo che pensa, progetta e prega; l'uomo che si appropria e si nutre delle cose e l'uomo che fa dono di esse; l'uomo che tende al possesso e al godimento dei beni e l'uomo che avverte l'esigenza di solidarietà che lo lega a tutti gli altri uomini [nota pastorale CEI]

St John Chrysostom urged: “Embellish your house with modesty and humility with the practice of prayer. Make your dwelling place shine with the light of justice; adorn its walls with good works, like a lustre of pure gold, and replace walls and precious stones with faith and supernatural magnanimity, putting prayer above all other things, high up in the gables, to give the whole complex decorum. You will thus prepare a worthy dwelling place for the Lord, you will welcome him in a splendid palace. He will grant you to transform your soul into a temple of his presence” (Pope Benedict)

San Giovanni Crisostomo esorta: “Abbellisci la tua casa di modestia e umiltà con la pratica della preghiera. Rendi splendida la tua abitazione con la luce della giustizia; orna le sue pareti con le opere buone come di una patina di oro puro e al posto dei muri e delle pietre preziose colloca la fede e la soprannaturale magnanimità, ponendo sopra ogni cosa, in alto sul fastigio, la preghiera a decoro di tutto il complesso. Così prepari per il Signore una degna dimora, così lo accogli in splendida reggia. Egli ti concederà di trasformare la tua anima in tempio della sua presenza” (Papa Benedetto)

And He continues: «Think of salvation, of what God has done for us, and choose well!». But the disciples "did not understand why the heart was hardened by this passion, by this wickedness of arguing among themselves and seeing who was guilty of that forgetfulness of the bread" (Pope Francis)

E continua: «Pensate alla salvezza, a quello che anche Dio ha fatto per noi, e scegliete bene!». Ma i discepoli «non capivano perché il cuore era indurito per questa passione, per questa malvagità di discutere fra loro e vedere chi era il colpevole di quella dimenticanza del pane» (Papa Francesco)

[Faith] is the lifelong companion that makes it possible to perceive, ever anew, the marvels that God works for us. Intent on gathering the signs of the times in the present of history […] (Pope Benedict, Porta Fidei n.15)

[La Fede] è compagna di vita che permette di percepire con sguardo sempre nuovo le meraviglie che Dio compie per noi. Intenta a cogliere i segni dei tempi nell’oggi della storia […] (Papa Benedetto, Porta Fidei n.15)

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