THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11/Psalm 104:1-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30/Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7/Luke 3:15-16,21-22)

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11/Psalm 104:1-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30/Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7/Luke 3:15-16,21-22)


THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
(Homily for Sunday 13 January 2019)

Today the Church celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s Feast officially marks the end of the Christmas celebration. The Feast of today calls us to reflect deeply on our own baptism.

As one of the sacraments of Christian initiation, the Catechism of the Catholic Church has it that the Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.

Through Baptism, we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we become members of Christ's body, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission. Baptism is indeed a sacrament of regeneration through water in the word (CCC. 1213).

From this exposition, we can see the relevance of the sacrament of Holy Baptism because it made us what we are today in the Church. It is indeed a reference point and point of departure to all other sacraments.

Reflecting on this sacrament, we see the gratuitous love of God for us in action, who has given us this sacrament through our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 28:19-20).

Coming to the Feast of today, the question we have to clarify here is: Is it necessary for Christ to receive baptism from the hands of man or rather from John the Baptist since he had neither original or actual sin? Imagine God coming to man to be baptized! What a mystery and a highest point of humility. No wonder then in the gospel according to Matthew John nearly refused to carry out this holy exercise saying “I need to be baptized by You and yet You are coming to me. What a privilege, what an honour given to John to baptize Christ.

Just come to think of it that John was baptizing people preparing them for the coming of the Messiah and eventually when the key Player arrived, He went to the same person assumed the condition of a sinner to be baptized! This calls for a serious meditation on the virtue of humility we reflected yesterday which still occupies the central theme in today’s Liturgy.

Our Lord voluntarily submitted Himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to fulfill all righteousness (Mt. 3:5). Jesus’ gesture is a manifestation of self-emptying as St. Paul presented this in his letter to Philippians. “Though He was in the form of God Jesus did not claim equality with God but rather He emptied Himself taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, He humbled Himself…” (Phil 2:6-11).

Just as we pointed out yesterday that the virtue of humility is for everybody. That it is not a virtue only for the subjects to their superiors but for the superiors as well to their subjects as today’s celebration portrays this very clearly.

Yesterday it was John to Christ but today Christ deemed it fit it to come to John for Baptism not because he had sin in Him but to make the mission of His forerunner to be more relevant and thereby acknowledge the greatness of His subject. This is the highest form of humility. What Christ did today is a lesson for everybody especially those who occupy various positions in the Church and in society.

How do we treat and see our subjects? Can we appreciate them for once! For those who have maids serving under their custody, how do you treat them, do you see any good thing in them, can you come down to their own level just to appreciate their worth, to give them compliments, and acknowledge their little efforts? Do you see them as third-class citizens who do not really belong? Is it difficult for you to come down to their level just because they are nobodies?

Jesus Christ, coming to John for a Baptism today without any sin is a practical lesson for each and every one of us especially those who have people working and serving under them.

In today’s celebration also, we see the coming together of the Holy Trinity immediately after the Baptism of Christ: God the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and coming upon Him (God the Son) and the voice of God the Father saying “This is my Beloved Son (God the Son, in the form of Man) in whom I am well pleased. The other two Persons of the Trinity indeed confirmed the mission of Christ here on earth. It was like a mandate and approval given to Christ to go on with His mission!

Therefore, whenever we are doing the will of God and carrying out the mission assigned to us, the Trinity is dwelling and abiding in us.

Today’s celebration also reveals that whenever we are doing the will of God, the voice of the Father is coming to us saying “These are my beloved sons and daughters in whom I am well pleased.

Again as St. Peter pointed out “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality but rather, in every nation whoever fears Him and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him (Acts 10: 34-35). Therefore, let us strive to emulate Christ and John the Baptist who went about doing the will of the Father and God at the end of their mission elevated them. May the good Lord bless us with peace as we celebrate this noble Feast.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you were baptized at the Jordan and you sanctified the waters of baptism. May I strive everyday to live a life worthy of my baptism. Amen.