As Jesus was praying, the heavens opened up!

Luke 3:15-16,21-22

The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, "Could this John be the Messiah?" 16 But John intervened: "I'm baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened up 22 and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

Food for thought!

Humility is accepting and being who we are. Living away or outside of who you were made to be is pride. John refused to be driven by people into being someone else, a Messiah. John was a humble man. But Jesus was even humbler.  The gospel says, “After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized.” This means that, on the day of his baptism, Jesus was the last in line, not the first, to be baptized. This is why St. Paul reminds us:

“Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.” (Phil 2:4-7)

The humble people pray. Prayer is a humble and humbling activity. Proud people don’t pray, can’t kneel down, cannot humble themselves. The gospel says that Jesus was praying at his Baptism. Here, at the entrance of his ministry, he prayed, and at the last moment of it he also prayed: “Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" Having said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46).

In his highest exultation at the transfiguration Jesus prayed: “As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.” (Luke 9:29), and in the lowest depths of humiliation in Gethsemane Jesus prayed: “He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed.” (Luke 22:41).

He prayed for his apostles whom he chose: “It happened in these days, that he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12), and for his murderers by whom he was rejected: “Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34).

He prayed before Peter confessed him: “It happened, as he was praying alone, that the disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?" (Luke 9:18), and also before Peter denied him: “but I prayed for you, that your faith wouldn't fail. You, when once you have turned again, establish your brothers." (Luke 22:32).

Today's gospel says, “As he was praying, the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him.” Praying opens heavens; when we pray the heavens open to us. Remember this: it is not just the prayer you say that matters. It is how passionately you pray.