O God, whose Only Begotten Son
has appeared in our very flesh,
grant, we pray, that we may be inwardly transformed
through him whom we recognize as outwardly like us.
The prayer’s meaning hinges on the effects of baptism.
Through the words of the formula for baptism and the outward pouring of sensible, visible water, there is an invisible and inward effect
of grace in the soul.
By baptism we are inwardly conformed or “shaped” so that we can be a proper temple of the Holy Spirit and recipient of graces as holy
member of the Body of Christ, the Church. By taking up our human nature, our “flesh”, into an indestructible bond with His divinity, the
Second Person became one like us in all things but sin.
Our baptism is the first step of being more and more reformed and shaped according to His image.
In this life it is our task to make sure that our outward life, our words and actions, are fully consistent with and show forth clearly the
inward reality of Christ in us.
This but one of the lessons we receive from Jesus’ humble submission to a baptism at the hands of John in the Jordan for which He had
absolutely no need.
The main concept underlying this feast is our spiritual adoption and new status in the Holy Spirit as the children of God, brothers and
sisters of Christ having the same heavenly Father.
In our baptism and by living the faith we profess we enjoy the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, indeed the indwelling of the Triune God
(cf. John 14:23).
This indwelling begins with the humble reception of a “character” or “owner’s mark” on our souls, which although it is a sign of God’s
Lordship over us actually sets us free from the bondage of sin. He adopts us as His own making us sons and daughters, not slaves. When
the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we can address God with reverential awe intimately as “Abba” (Mark 14:36), rather than with the abject fear
of a slave for a hard master.
God does more for us than freeing us from sin and making us His adopted children.
He also makes us co-heirs with His eternally Only-Begotten to a divine inheritance.
As co-heirs we can be admitted also to the joys of heaven which Christ, our brother in our humanity, has in perfect possession with His
resurrection and ascension to the Father’s right hand (cf. Romans 8:34).
Once we were slaves of sin and the enemies of God (Romans 5:10-11).
Now we are sons and daughters with a (re)birthright to inherit.
Our humanity, in Christ, already enjoys this while all of humanity still awaits the fulfillment of this promise.
God now hears our prayers as He hears His confident children, not fearful strangers.
Edited excerpt from: Baptism of the Lord Collect