When Jesus is immersed in the waters of the Jordan, he was anticipating his future baptism, his passion and death on the cross. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a 'Baptism' with which he  had to be baptized." (Luke 12:50) (CCC 1225)

When he was born, he was given the name Jesus, for he was the Savior of the world. After his baptism, John the prophet-baptizer declares, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." The Fathers of the Church said in his baptism Jesus takes on the sins of humanity. What happened at our baptism? Was it not the effects of Jesus' baptism and passion? How grateful are we of this gift? Is not our baptism to be a reflection of our life in Christ? Are we not to be plunged, immersed into the life of Christ until the final victory, our death in and with Christ?