Epiphany.       This Sunday, January 7th, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord.  Epiphany means “manifestation,” and refers to the manifestation of God to His creatures – the manifestation of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 528 ).   Although Epiphany had been celebrated earlier in some areas, since AD 376, the Church universal has celebrated on Epiphany three grand manifestations of the Divinity of Jesus: (1) the coming of the wise men (the three kings), the first Gentiles to adore the Infant God ( Mt. 2:11 ); (2) the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan where the voice of the Eternal Father proclaims Him as, “My Beloved Son” ( Mt. 3:17 , Mk.1:11 , Lk. 3:22 ); and (3) Jesus’ changing water into wine at the marriage feast of Cana, the first of Jesus’ signs which “manifested His glory” ( Jn. 2:11 ), His Divine power, His radiance of the God’s splendor ( Heb. 1:3 ).      ...

Baptism of the Lord       This Sunday, January 10th, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord.       St. John the Baptist tells us, “For this I came baptizing with water, that he [Jesus Christ] might be revealed to Israel.” John testifies, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” ( Jn 1:31-34 ). The evidence, the proof, John says, that Jesus is the Son of God is the Holy Spirit descending and remaining upon Jesus ( Jn 1:32-33 ; cf., Mt3:16 , Mk 1:10 , Lk 3:22 ). This was the first remarkable sign when John baptized the Lord Jesus.       There was a second remarkable sign: “A voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’” ( Mk 1:11 ; cf. Lk 3:22 , Mt 3:17 ). This voice from heaven also came at Jesus’ transfiguration: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him” ( Mt 17:5 ; cf. Mk 9:7 ) and, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” ( Lk9:...