Through His Baptism, We Too Are God’s Beloved!

 (Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord-Year C)

     We have celebrated the event of the birth of Jesus with enthusiasm and euphoria. The event of today: the solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus marks the end of the celebration of the anniversary of the historical birth of Jesus: the Christmas tide. The event of the baptism inaugurates the active life of Jesus and by implication the adoption of every Christian as sons and daughters of God. The solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord marks the first Sunday of the Church’s year. The child Jesus we celebrated in the manger in swaddling clothes, has grown and matured, he is now thirty years and this event marks a choice of a radical decision in his life. With the event of the Baptism, Jesus faces his destiny and mission, he begins the work in realization of the purpose of his incarnation. It was a moment of decision for Jesus, and Jesus courageously accepted Baptism for our sake. The Baptism of Jesus is a decisional stage in the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world as God, it could be considered as the second epiphany. After thirty years of silence and a hidden life, Jesus has become a man among others. He had to pass through a rite for sinners, of those who need purification, yet he was Pure and needed no purification. The action of the Holy Spirit is central in today’s liturgy, an action that was centered on Jesus of Nazareth.

     Today we celebrate an event of great importance in our Christian faith. Its importance can be seen not only from its theological import, but also from the fact of it been reported by the three synoptic and St. John as well. Be that as it may, we may well affirm that the Baptism of Jesus constitutes a fundamental theme in the preaching of the Apostles. No doubt, today’s celebration affords us the opportunity to reflect on why Jesus, though God had to go through the water of Baptism. The readings of today present three historical moments of God’s intervention in favor of the helpless sinful humanity: first, his intervention in the liberation of the people of Israel from slavery in Babylon (first reading). Second, his intervention in the revelation of the divine sonship of Jesus (Gospel). Third, his manifestation to men and women of the new situation created in those who have received Baptism (second reading).

     In the first reading (Is. 40:1-5.9-11) the prophet uses a new language to describe the novelty of God’s action, who comes to liberate his people: “her period of slavery has ended…let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be leveled, every cliff become a plateau…Here is the Lord Yahweh coming with power, his arms maintains his authority” (vv. 2.4.10).

     The Gospel (Lk. 3:15-16.21-22) is a highlight of the core of our celebration today, the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Christ had to be baptized in order to make a way for us, in order to purify the water of Baptism in which we ourselves were to be bathed. This is because, as the first among his brothers (Rom 8: 29), he always takes the lead in order to show us the way. As narrated by St. Luke, the event of the Baptism of Jesus was hurried over with a genitive absolute: “when Jesus…had been baptized and was praying” (v. 21b), thereby suppressing the role of John the Baptist in the Baptism of Christ. This shows that the intention of St. Luke was to lay emphasis on the divine initiative: the descent of the Spirit and the heavenly voice in the Baptism event, and not on the Baptist’s role.

     Then, we may well ask: why did Jesus accept baptism? Jesus accepted Baptism for our sake, not because of any sin he has committed, but instead our own Baptism is because of sins. Jesus as the Son of God was sinless and so needed no Baptism. According to the CCC 1213, Baptism is a sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us children of God, members of the Church and sharers in her mission. Going back to the question, first, Jesus accepted Baptism for the forgiveness of sins, not his own sins, but our own sins. Through his incarnation Jesus made himself similar to us, and by accepting Baptism, he wants to make us similar to Himself, and St. Paul captured it vividly well when he affirms thus: “every one of you that has been baptised has been clothed in Christ” (Gal. 3:27). Second, Christ had to be baptized in order to make a way for us, in order to purify the water of baptism in which we ourselves were to be bathed. By accepting to be baptized, Christ purified the water in which we are baptized. Others enter to be purified by the water, He enters to purify the water for us.  Third, Christ identified Himself with the people in their search for God. In other words, Jesus allows Himself to be baptized too because He wants us to feel that He is one with us in our longing and desire for God. His Baptism reveals his solidarity with the sinful humanity. The solidarity he extended even through His Eucharistic presence. The same Jesus that went to John in humility for Baptism is the same Jesus who is mysteriously hidden in the signs of Bread and Wine. In every Eucharistic celebration we welcome Him with the same words that John the Baptist used to welcome Him: “Behold the Lamb of God, behold He who takes the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29).

     In the event of Jesus’ Baptism the Spirit manifested himself in form of a dove that descended on Jesus, bringing blessings and the irruption of power for the fulfillment of his mission. The dove that hovers above him testifies that he can make this sacrifice of himself precisely because he has the Spirit. A voice came from heaven, this entails that now heaven is here, because God is here. "You are my Son" (Lk 3:22; cf Ps 2:7). He is the Face of the Father. Here sonship and fatherhood meet in a single reality. Indeed, at the heart of the Baptism event is Jesus’ experience of God’s fatherhood and the approval of his sonship. A voice was heard from heaven: “This is my Beloved Son...” Again, the Holy Spirit came upon him (cf. Mk. 1:10; Mt. 3:16; Lk. 3:22). The coming of the Spirit of God serves as a sort of equipment and empowerment for a crucial task. For instance, we remember Othniel (cf. Jdg. 3:10), Gideon (cf. Jdg. 6:34), Jephthah (cf. Jdg. 11:29), Samson (cf. Jdg. 13:25), Saul (cf. 1Sam. 10:10) and the servant of God (cf. Is. 42:1). Interestingly, in the case of the men we mentioned above, the coming of the Spirit was temporarily for a particular task, but for Jesus it was an empowerment and a mandate for life.

      The culminating point of the account of the Baptism of Jesus is not just about Baptism in se, for the evangelist just mentioned it in the passing, rather it is more of the fact of the mysterious voice that came from heaven proclaiming: “You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you” (v.22). It is a divine revelation that proclaims Jesus Christ as the Begotten Son of the Father, chosen for a particular mission or better for a unique mission, and with the characteristics of the Messiah, “I will proclaim the decree of Yahweh: He said to me, ‘You are my Son, today have I father you”’ (Ps. 2:7). This divine proclamation will assume full significance when his Baptism is accomplished, in the immersion in death. As St. John affirmed: “He it is who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with water alone but with water and blood, and it is the Spirit that bears witness, for the Spirit is Truth” (1Jn. 5:6), and in his Gospel he (John) will make reference to John the Baptist thus: “I saw the Spirit come down on Him like a dove from heaven and rest on him” and again “I have seen and I testify that he is the Chosen One of God” (Jn. 1:32.34). The Baptism of Jesus therefore revealed his identity and mission.

     An important happening in the episode of the Baptism of Jesus is also the descent of the Holy Spirit: “the Holy Spirit descended on Him”, and St. Luke reported with those words, because he intends to communicate to us that Jesus is the Consecrated Messiah, Prophet and Messenger of the Good News by the Holy Spirit. All through the period of his existence, Jesus preached, performed miracles, healed, pardoned, died and resurrected by the work of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in Him. All his life was under the action of the Holy Spirit. In fact, he was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, we cannot forget the outstanding passage, where one day, while reading in the Synagogue, Jesus himself proclaimed: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted…” and he concluded thus: “This text is fulfilled today even while you are listening” (Lk. 4:18-22).

     Jesus is therefore consecrated and guided by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a mission, desired by the Father, of liberation from the powers of evil, and of moral and spiritual elevation of man, as prophet Isaiah envisaged through the liberation of the chosen people from exile. Little wonder, Jesus joins the line like others, in order to be baptized by John the Baptist. This gesture of Jesus expresses his solidarity with humanity. He did not dissociate himself from the sinful humanity, nor from the sins, rather he assumed all on Himself.

     In the context of today’s Gospel one may well underscore that St. Luke did not merely narrate the Baptism of Jesus at Jordan, only to reveal his true filial identity and the nature of his mission. More so, Luke’s account therein serves as a point of departure for Baptismal catechesis to the Christian community. As such, in the Baptism of Jesus, we can discover our own Baptism. As St. Luke reported, John the Baptist announced clearly “I baptize you with water; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire” (v. 16). Through the Holy Spirit we are consecrated in view of the missions we are called to accomplish, which is similar to the mission of Christ: to bring good news of salvation to every man. We are called to accomplish this mission in the style and manner of Christ, that is through solidarity with men and women of our time, bringing hope and succor to those in need, with the awareness that this mission at times includes inevitably the experience of the Cross.

     As a matter of fact, in Baptism as St. Paul underlined in the second reading (Tt. 2:11-14; 3:4-7), “it was not because of any upright actions we had done ourselves, it was for no reason except his own faithful love that he saved us by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Tt. 3:5-6). St. Paul again affirmed that by the work of the Holy Spirit, we are “regenerated” and “renewed”, made sons and daughters of God, and we participate in his divine life (cf. Tt. 3:5). The passage of the second reading delineates the new reality of the baptized as a birth of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit.

    The Baptism also inaugurated a new phase in the life of Jesus. He was presented officially to the world by the Father, as the Messiah who speaks and acts authoritatively in His name. This marks the beginning of the public life of Jesus. From this moment Jesus will begin the pronouncement of his so called “You have heard how it was said..., but I say this to you” (Mt. 5) and the manifestation of his authority when he speaks, which surprised the scribes and the pharisees. In fact, in ancient times this marked the beginning of the narration of the life of Jesus. As a matter of fact, St. Mark the first evangelist, in his Gospel started with the Baptism of Jesus. Indeed, the Baptism of Jesus is very important because it is linked to the manifestation of the Spirit and the inauguration of a new era. John the Baptist spoke about the two era in this way: i baptize you with water, he will baptize with the Holy Spirit. The descent of the Holy Spirit launches the beginning of redemption. It indicates that new creation has began, because the Spirit has reappeared on the water like at the beginning (cf. Gen 1:2). The Holy Spirit was already in Jesus of Nazareth before his birth. For the Holy Spirit descended on Mary, before the one at Jordan. But there it happened in silence and it was less-known. Here instead there is manifestation to the world of the reality of the Spirit. The prophetic and messianic unction of Jesus was made known to the world. At his Baptism Jesus appears as the long-awaited on whom the Spirit of the Lord descended, as it was written by prophet Isaiah.

     Indeed, the celebration of today has drawn my attention to an age long Catholic tradition of Infant Baptism. After many centuries, the Church still upholds the tradition of the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism to infants. Even though, there are some who criticize this praxis, but the Church retains it necessary to continue this tradition, because administering Baptism to infants constitutes a particular sign of the prevenient love of God; who saves us, “not because of any upright actions we had done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own faithful love” (Tt. 3:5), as St. Paul opined in the second reading. Again, because Baptism elevates a creature to the supernatural order, it effuses grace, virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As such, it will not be just to deny an infant all this grace that God in his love offers us. However, let us not forget two important considerations: First, Baptism is administered to infants in the faith of their parents. Second, though it is true that Baptism administered to infants is an immense gift offered to unconscious beings, however, it behooves us to reaffirm that Baptism is a reality to be rediscovered and deepened progressively all through one’s existence. The Baptism received as infants in the faith of the parents, has to be lived and realized fully as adults. Authentic and matured Christians cannot remain at the infantile stage of faith, they have to be able to know how to develop all the supernatural potentialities that Baptism bestow. Indeed, at the heart of Baptism are the four programmatic words: Rebirth, Initiation, Consecration and Empowerment.

     Above all else, however, the occasion of Jesus’ Baptism reminds us that a baptized Christian can be seen as a person in whom the Trinitarian God is manifested, for he or she is called to maintain a personal relationship with the three Divine Persons. As a child of the Father, he/she lives a true filial relationship, especially in prayer and adoration. As a redeemed by the Son, he/she maintains basically a relationship of sequela and imitation, always aware that it is through Baptism we share in the Salvific effects of his Cross. And as a temple of the Holy Spirit, he/she lives with the awareness of a sacred, sanctifying and vivifying relationship that renews and purifies his/her life every day. It is equally an avenue to reflect over our lives as Christians and possibly ask ourselves what the effects of the Holy Spirit are in our lives since after our Baptism? Indeed, to say it with St. Paul “what you have received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, ‘Abba, Father” (Rm. 8:15), and again “The Spirit himself joins our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God” (Rm. 8:16). Are you conscious of this dignity and filial identity? By means of Baptism a Christian becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit, a place in which He lives and a place from which He wants to render Himself present to man. As such, a Christian by virtue of his Baptism is like a movable Monstrance of the Spirit. Are we conscious and aware of this truth of faith? Doubtlessly, Baptism did two things in the life of Jesus, so it does in our lives too. First, through Baptism we are given a mission like Jesus, we are commissioned with a mandate. Second, we are called to make the Son of God manifest in the world and also we are sent by the power of the Holy Spirit. By virtue of our Baptism we ought to become the Beloved of the Father. Are you truly God’s beloved in words and works? Are you keeping to the promises you made or that were made on your behalf on the day of your Baptism or you are paying allegiance to the Devil? Let us therefore, thank the Lord who through our Baptism has adopted us as sons and daughters in the Son, let us pray to God to give us the grace to be always conscious of our Baptismal responsibilities as adults in faith. May the Baptism of Jesus we celebrate today revitalize the consciousness for our own Baptism and recharge us with vigour to carry out our mission as children of God and members of the Church. Amen!!!

(Fr. Vitus M.C. Unegbu, SC)