We don’t really need to do that, do we?

Today’s Gospel on this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord has one of the most amazing confrontations in all of Scripture:

Jesus came from Galilee
to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.

John tried to prevent him, saying,
"I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?"

Jesus said to him in reply,
"Allow it now,
for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness."

Then he allowed him.

We ourselves may think that we know best. We may feel that we are spiritually far ahead of other people in this world or even in the pews. After all, we may rightfully see ourselves as intelligent, educated, devout, and gifted with the Holy Spirit.

We may find many things in regular Church life or observed by other Christians that are pabulum, that are too pious and overly devotional, that do not agree with us, or that are too beneath us.

We need to ask ourselves a question: are we better than Jesus?

"Allow it now,
for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness."