In his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis offered a profound reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, marking the close of the Christmas season. He highlighted the event as a reminder of God’s intimate love, manifested through the humanity of Jesus, and called on believers to live as children of the one Father who accompanies them throughout life’s journey.

Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Pope Francis encouraged Christians to contemplate the two key elements revealed during Jesus’ baptism at the River Jordan: the face and the voice of God.

 Pope described the Gospel account as a scene of anticipation, where Jesus approaches John the Baptist to be baptized. Joining the crowds with “a bare soul and bare feet,” Jesus demonstrates humility and solidarity with humanity. Pope Francis noted how this scene portrays the openness of people coming to receive the baptism of repentance.

Reflecting on the significance of the event, Pope Francis explained that God chose to reveal Himself through Jesus, establishing a unique space for humanity to encounter Him. “It is in the face of the beloved Son that we know who God truly is,” he said.

The voice of the Father, heard during Jesus’ baptism, also carried a powerful message. Pope urged believers to embrace this transformative gift of baptism, which allows them to enter into a deep relationship with God.

Pope Francis invited the faithful to deepen their personal connection with God by reflecting on their baptism. “Do we feel loved and accompanied by God, or do we think He is far away from us? Do we listen to His voice?” he asked.

He posed a practical challenge, encouraging everyone to remember the date of their baptism, describing it as a moment when believers were “reborn to new life” and became part of the mystery of Christ and the Church. Pope urged Christians to celebrate this date like a birthday, calling it “a birth into the spirit of God.”

Concluding his address, Pope Francis turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary, inviting all to seek her intercession. “Let us entrust ourselves to the Virgin Mary and invoke her help,” he prayed, encouraging the faithful to carry God’s love forward in their daily lives.

This reflection on the Baptism of the Lord calls on Christians to cherish their own baptism and live with the awareness of God’s accompanying presence, celebrating His love revealed through Jesus Christ.