ISB ~ Mark 1 v10

the heavens opened:The underlying expression is more dramatic than the translation, since the Greek verb schizo means to “rip” or “tear”. Heaven was thus “torn open” at the sound of God’s voice and the descent of the Spirit (Is 64:1). Elsewhere in Mark this same verb depicts the tearing of the Temple veil (15:38), an episode similarly accompanied by a declaration of Jesus’ Sonship (15:39).

a dove:An image with various associations in the Bible (Song 1:15; 6:9; Hos 11:11; Mt 10:16).

• A close connection between the Spirit and a dove is found in Genesis: as the “Spirit of God” hovered over the waters at creation (Gen 1:2), so Noah sent forth a “dove” to hover over the flood waters once creation was cleansed and renewed (Gen 8:10-12). Jesus’ Baptism likewise inaugurates a new beginning for the world through the Spirit and prefigures our own cleansing through Baptism (1 Pet 3:18-22; CCC 536, 694, 701).See note on Mt 3:11.