VATICAN - On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus, the Pope recalls the commitment which comes with Baptism to "listen" to Jesus: believe in Him and follow Him, readily doing his will, the will of God.

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The sacrament of Baptism and the commitment it brings was the centre of Pope Benedict XVI’s midday Angelus reflection on Sunday January 7, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Earlier that morning during Mass celebrated in the Sistine Chapel the Holy Father had administered the Sacrament of Baptism to 13 newborn infants born to the same number of Vatican employees in the last two months. The Pope recalled that the “The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan is recorded and highlighted by all four of the Evangelists although in different ways” because “the apostolic community considered it most important, not only because on this occasion there was the first clear and complete manifestation of the Trinity for the first time in history, but also because that event marked the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus on the roads of Palestine”. Jesus’ baptism in the waters of the River Jordan anticipates his baptism of blood on the cross, “and is the symbol also of the whole sacramental activity with which the Redeemer will achieve the redemption of humanity”.
The Holy Father also recalled that the Baptism of Christ is closely connected with the baptism of all Christians: “in baptism we are inserted into the mystical Body of Christ, the Church, we die and rise again with Him, we are clothed in Him … therefore the commitment which comes with Baptism is to "listen" to Jesus: believe in Him and follow Him, readily doing his will, the will of God. In this way each of us can strive for holiness, the goal which, as the Second Vatican Council II recalled, is the vocation of every baptised Christian”. Pope Benedict XVI concluded asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede “that we may be always faithful to our Baptism”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/1/2007; righe 19, parole 286)