Fr. Mike Schmitz

They were also called, we're going to get this later on, they were also called to pick up their cross with the Lord Jesus Christ and to trust in him, the one who was crucified for them. And to not lose heart in the face of difficulties, to not lose heart in the face of real suffering and real, true, genuine oppression. And so Mark is writing his gospel, you know, the gospel of St.

They were also called, we're going to get this later on, they were also called to pick up their cross with the Lord Jesus Christ and to trust in him, the one who was crucified for them. And to not lose heart in the face of difficulties, to not lose heart in the face of real suffering and real, true, genuine oppression. And so Mark is writing his gospel, you know, the gospel of St.

They were also called, we're going to get this later on, they were also called to pick up their cross with the Lord Jesus Christ and to trust in him, the one who was crucified for them. And to not lose heart in the face of difficulties, to not lose heart in the face of real suffering and real, true, genuine oppression. And so Mark is writing his gospel, you know, the gospel of St.

Peter to these persecuted Christians under the emperor Nero. Okay. So a couple notes in chapter one, we have the baptism of Jesus. And one of the questions that almost is always asked about the baptism of Jesus is why did Jesus get baptized? I mean, there is, there is no reason for Jesus to get baptized because Jesus

Peter to these persecuted Christians under the emperor Nero. Okay. So a couple notes in chapter one, we have the baptism of Jesus. And one of the questions that almost is always asked about the baptism of Jesus is why did Jesus get baptized? I mean, there is, there is no reason for Jesus to get baptized because Jesus

Peter to these persecuted Christians under the emperor Nero. Okay. So a couple notes in chapter one, we have the baptism of Jesus. And one of the questions that almost is always asked about the baptism of Jesus is why did Jesus get baptized? I mean, there is, there is no reason for Jesus to get baptized because Jesus

John the Baptist was offering a baptism of repentance, and there's nothing that Jesus needed to repent from. And so what is going on? Well, one of the things we recognize is that where Jesus leads the way, we are all called to follow. And the waters didn't make him holy, but he made the waters holy. This is one of those key moments, one of those key teachings

John the Baptist was offering a baptism of repentance, and there's nothing that Jesus needed to repent from. And so what is going on? Well, one of the things we recognize is that where Jesus leads the way, we are all called to follow. And the waters didn't make him holy, but he made the waters holy. This is one of those key moments, one of those key teachings

John the Baptist was offering a baptism of repentance, and there's nothing that Jesus needed to repent from. And so what is going on? Well, one of the things we recognize is that where Jesus leads the way, we are all called to follow. And the waters didn't make him holy, but he made the waters holy. This is one of those key moments, one of those key teachings

in the early church is that Jesus wasn't baptized because he needed it. When he was baptized, he brought the holiness. Now, one of the things we heard when we were reading through the book of Leviticus, right, is that if something was unclean and it touched something clean, the unclean made the clean thing unclean. Does that make sense? So you have unclean, you have clean.

in the early church is that Jesus wasn't baptized because he needed it. When he was baptized, he brought the holiness. Now, one of the things we heard when we were reading through the book of Leviticus, right, is that if something was unclean and it touched something clean, the unclean made the clean thing unclean. Does that make sense? So you have unclean, you have clean.

in the early church is that Jesus wasn't baptized because he needed it. When he was baptized, he brought the holiness. Now, one of the things we heard when we were reading through the book of Leviticus, right, is that if something was unclean and it touched something clean, the unclean made the clean thing unclean. Does that make sense? So you have unclean, you have clean.

Unclean touching clean makes the clean thing unclean. Okay, that's really nice and confusing. But Jesus is going to reverse this. When Jesus, he encounters a leper in today's reading. And what happens? Well, if you touch a leper, you become unclean. The opposite happens when Jesus touches the leper.

Unclean touching clean makes the clean thing unclean. Okay, that's really nice and confusing. But Jesus is going to reverse this. When Jesus, he encounters a leper in today's reading. And what happens? Well, if you touch a leper, you become unclean. The opposite happens when Jesus touches the leper.

Unclean touching clean makes the clean thing unclean. Okay, that's really nice and confusing. But Jesus is going to reverse this. When Jesus, he encounters a leper in today's reading. And what happens? Well, if you touch a leper, you become unclean. The opposite happens when Jesus touches the leper.

Instead of the unclean leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus, the clean one, the holy one, he touches the leper and he extends his cleanness. He extends his righteousness. He extends his wholeness and his healing to the leper. And this is also what's happening in the baptism.

Instead of the unclean leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus, the clean one, the holy one, he touches the leper and he extends his cleanness. He extends his righteousness. He extends his wholeness and his healing to the leper. And this is also what's happening in the baptism.

Instead of the unclean leper making Jesus unclean, Jesus, the clean one, the holy one, he touches the leper and he extends his cleanness. He extends his righteousness. He extends his wholeness and his healing to the leper. And this is also what's happening in the baptism.

is that Jesus is not being purified by the water, but he is sanctifying the water by his presence, by his touching the water, which is just so powerful and so incredible. One note as well, when it comes to that baptism, it says, he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the spirit descending upon him like a dove.

is that Jesus is not being purified by the water, but he is sanctifying the water by his presence, by his touching the water, which is just so powerful and so incredible. One note as well, when it comes to that baptism, it says, he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the spirit descending upon him like a dove.