Today's gospel is the Baptism of Christ. In the early Church it was part of the "three epiphanies" all celebrated at the same time: The Magi, The Baptism and The Marriage at Cana. All of these three involved an introduction of Christ into the world through a revelatory event.
As usual, there is a lot here. Christ come out of the crowd like any man to be baptized. He is a common, average guy. When Turgenev has his dream about Christ, this common-looking man, he asks, "What kind of Christ is this?"
Christ, of course, is exactly that, a unifying principle among men, solidifying them with the Divine.
Then things get even more complex and less literal. The Spirit of God "descended like a dove and hovered over Him." Dove do not hover. But hawks do. In fact a hovering hawk in Italian is said to be "doing as Holy Spirit."
But the key to the story is earlier when Christ is challenged by John who feels the order of things reversed, that Christ should be baptizing him. Christ says, "Allow it for now." Put the order of things on hold for the present. Do not be too rigid. There is a lot more revolution to come.
As usual, there is a lot here. Christ come out of the crowd like any man to be baptized. He is a common, average guy. When Turgenev has his dream about Christ, this common-looking man, he asks, "What kind of Christ is this?"
Christ, of course, is exactly that, a unifying principle among men, solidifying them with the Divine.
Then things get even more complex and less literal. The Spirit of God "descended like a dove and hovered over Him." Dove do not hover. But hawks do. In fact a hovering hawk in Italian is said to be "doing as Holy Spirit."
But the key to the story is earlier when Christ is challenged by John who feels the order of things reversed, that Christ should be baptizing him. Christ says, "Allow it for now." Put the order of things on hold for the present. Do not be too rigid. There is a lot more revolution to come.
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