THEOLOGICAL CLUE

The theological intention in giving the baptism of Jesus its own special day, the First Sunday after the Epiphany, rather than attempting to restore it to January 6 and reconstruct Epiphany as a unitive event, is several fold: first, it is an important part of the incarnation, as a reaffirmation by God that this man was the Holy Child born in Bethlehem three decades or so in the past; second, Jesus has come to bring in the Kingdom of God and save all people through the forgiveness of their sins by his perfect obedience to the Father; and, third, the church intends the faithful to gain better comprehension of the meaning and importance of baptism in their lives. God claims us, as he did Jesus Christ, by assuring those who have been baptized "in the name of the Father, and …