This Gospel contains the heart of John the Baptist’s preaching. His message of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Lord resonated with the crowds who flocked to see him. Just as it stirred his hearers to long for the coming Messiah, so it moves us to worship.
We might think that John had cause to be humbly satisfied at the success of his mission — what more could be asked for than genuine repentance and new-found faith? But John stressed that he was only the messenger sent ahead of the Messiah — his baptism in water was to be surpassed by a new baptism. John came to understand that the promised Messiah was at hand, who would take away the sins of the world.
John baptized people in the Jordan to symbolize their repentance, but he knew that something more than a symbol was needed to rescue humankind — they needed to be immersed in the Spirit of God.
Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit. This gift from the Father empowers us to respond to our call and vocation to live our life in the Spirit. Once more we are able to know God’s love and to love God and others. We can press on each day in hope, knowing the Spirit will form the character of Jesus within us.