Two Kinds of Baptism

There are two baptisms mentioned in the New Testament: the baptism of John and that of Jesus. John is the baptism of repentance; Jesus’ baptism is of water and Spirit. In today’s Gospel Jesus started to baptize by preaching the Good News and calling His first four disciples.

Jesus’ baptism is an invitation, responsibility and commitment all together.

It is an invitation that we change our old ways and make ourselves new. To come to repentance is to desire for transformation.

It is a responsibility because we are to keep the promise alive, maintaining the changed self, and consciously growing in solidarity with God.

It is a commitment because following Jesus entails an endless journey; an on-going process of dying to oneself and reborn to a new life.

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It is no wonder why we are always encouraged to renew our vows to God each day, because like our baptism, we are in need to be always re awakened. 

新約裡面提到兩個洗禮：若翰的洗禮和耶穌的。若翰是悔改的洗禮，耶穌的洗禮是用水和火。在今天的福音耶穌開始施洗由傳福音，並要求他的第一個四位門徒跟隨祂。

耶穌的洗禮是一個邀請，責任和承諾都在一起。 

它是一個邀請我們改變舊的方式，使自己成為'全新的我'。若要悔改，必須有轉變的渴望。 

它是一種責任，因為我們要信守承諾活著，保持改變自我，自己與天主日益團結。

它是一個承諾，因為跟隨耶穌需要一種無盡的旅程，對自己的死亡與再新的生活是 一個持續的過程。

這也難怪為什麼我們總是鼓勵我們的誓言每一天向天主更新，是因為像我們的洗禮，我們需要總是重新喚醒。