Day 154: I Am Not Worthy
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This is Day 154.

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Today we will be meditating upon and praying with the first luminous mystery, the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan, with help from a painting entitled The Baptism of Christ by the artists Andrea del Verrocchio and Leonardo da Vinci. Now an introduction to our artists and the artwork. Andrea del Verrocchio lived in Florence and worked as a painter and sculptor

Though he was better known for his sculptures, he did train several famous painters in his workshop, including Leonardo da Vinci, who worked with him on this one. Our painting today is from the 15th century. Now a description of our painting. In a watery, rocky canyon of springs, two men stand tall, ankle deep in water, Jesus and John the Baptist.

Amidst the palm tree and formation of rock, John the Baptist, wearing a brown hair shirt and holding a pole cross, raises up a golden dish that pours a small stream of water onto the head of Jesus. Jesus stands stripped but for a colorful striped cloth around his waist. His hair is long, his eyes downcast, his hands clasped in prayer. Above all against the blue sky, a dove descends from two hands at the top of the painting

bringing with it piercing yellow spears of light. The men are alone apart from two young angels kneeling at the edge of the stream. So as we spend time with the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan by John today, I'd like to do so by comparing the baptism of our Lord to the Annunciation, especially our prayer with Fra Angelico's rendition of the Annunciation with a particular focus on the theme of humility.

Now, if you recall from our time with Fra Angelico's Annunciation, we noted the humility of the angel who bowed his head in reverence towards the Blessed Mother. And then Mary responding with the bow of her own head in humble reverence before both the messenger and his message. It's a moment of God's profound working, right? Being done in the most fertile of soils, right? That of humility and fidelity.

So let's begin by looking at John's response to Jesus. Jesus comes to him to be baptized. And at first we can say John is troubled, like he resists. He recognized that he should be baptized by Jesus and not the other way around. He knows that before him, right, is the one who sandal straps, he's not worthy to untie.

And we see in John what we saw in Mary, like humility, recognition of lowliness, but also like a dialogue, like speaking, but also listening. And of course we see here the humility of Jesus at the baptism in the Jordan. Jesus who lowers himself to be baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness, obedient to the Father's will, taking the form, the place of a repentant sinner while in fact being free.

of all sin. And as the angel encouraged Mary when she was troubled, Jesus encourages John. He receives his protest and he says, well, let it be for now. Essentially he says, trust me. And the gospel says that John consented. Like Mary, he resisted. There was a dialogue, but then he said yes. And I think this is important. It's not that there was a change of heart towards his own lowliness, but there was a movement to obedience and trust, just like Mary's fiat.

And here's what happened, right? John baptizes Jesus and then the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove. Very similar, very parallel to how Mary, right after her fiat is overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. And what I want to point out about now in today's painting is this, like firstly, the humility of Jesus. As we look at the painting, notice his head bowed in reverence and humility.

Take in, notice the humility of his figure, of his dress, his entering into the waters of the Jordan here portrayed as humble waters, shallow waters. He knows he is the beloved son, the second person of the most holy trinity, yet look at the humility of Jesus. And now let's turn our attention to John the Baptist in this painting, particularly his face, his disposition. Like notice his focus here.

his confidence, his strength, even his boldness. As we just touched on, like John has communicated, he is deeply aware of his lowliness, especially before Jesus. Yet he is here confident and bold in his response. Why? Because his confidence is in the one who has willed it.

Again, just like Mary who responds with confidence to her role as mother of God. Like there is humility, but because of obedience, there is confidence. So as we pray today, let us be moved again by the humility of Jesus and the obedience of Jesus, but also let us find like our own humility, our own awareness of our loneliness, but let us not hold back from responding to God's invitation to

with boldness and confidence, not in ourselves but in the One who is called us, trusting that we have access to the same Holy Spirit who overshadowed the Blessed Mother and descended upon Jesus at the Jordan. Now with Mary, let us pray for humility and holy confidence in responding to all of God's invitations

As we pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus holy mary mother of god pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen hail mary full of grace the lord is with thee blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus holy mary mother of god pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death amen glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy spirit as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end amen in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen all right thanks so much for joining me and praying with me today

And I look forward to continuing the journey with you again tomorrow. Poco a poco, friends. God bless y'all.