What we have observed concerning the preceding homily, that it is to be ascribed to the Latin author, applies quite fittingly to this one as well. And so I do not doubt that the author of this one too was the same bishop of the Turinese. We have received it from two codices of the abbey of St. Dalmatius, and from the Taurinensian. Both of St. Dalmatius report it inscribed in this manner: 'Likewise also, On the Baptism of Christ, homily III.' But the Taurinensian: 'Likewise also, On the Epiphany and the Baptism of Christ, homily XXX.' Some days ago, brethren, we set forth that our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized not for his own sake, but for ours; for since he himself had committed no sins,
yet for this reason he came to the streams of the Jordan, for this reason he mingled himself with that crowd of sinners which had come to John's baptism — both that he might sanctify the waters of the Jordan, and that he might invite us to the laver of baptism, and you especially, the catechumens, who without baptism cannot attain the joys of paradise. And this too the most blessed John, the Baptist of Christ, believed. For when he saw Christ coming to him, behold, turning to that crowd of sinners who had come to him to be baptized, he said: Behold the Lamb of God: behold him who taketh away the sin of the world. Behold, that is, him who never committed sin. Behold the Lamb of God. Behold, this is he who takes away the sins of the world. Run therefore to him. Receive baptism from him.
For it is he who is able to cleanse your sins. By him I too desire to be baptized. And this indeed John truly wished, whence he said to Christ: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me? That is: Thou who art God descendest to thy creature? Thou who art king and lord of lords comest to thy servant? Thou who art holy descendest to a sinner, that thou mightest be baptized by him? And he himself would have refused the ministry of so great an office to Christ, had not Christ himself commanded him to render it. 'Suffer it now,' says the divine word that was read before; 'for so it becometh us to fulfil all justice. I ought to be baptized by thee' (Matt. 3). Jesus therefore is baptized by John, not indeed for himself, but for us.
God is baptized by a creature, the Lord by a servant, that he himself might fulfil all justice. If then he who committed no sin was baptized, why should not we too, who are sinners, be baptized? If Christ, who was chastity, sobriety, innocence itself, willed to be dipped in the baptism of his servant, why should not we too, upon whom the burden of sins overflows, be cleansed unto salvation? Let us therefore do what the venerable Baptist of Christ himself wished to be done in his own case, and did not obtain. He desired the baptism of Christ, he wished to be baptized by him, and yet he did not merit to obtain it. To us baptism is freely offered; let us therefore be baptized;
for our Savior himself, in order that he might fulfil all the commandments of the law which he himself had given, willed to be baptized; as he himself also said elsewhere: I came not to abolish the law, but to fulfil it (Matt. 5). It ends.