We celebrate on this Sunday the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which ends the liturgical season of Christmas.
The prophet Isaiah speaks to us of the Lord’s servant, in whom God delights – he is the one upon whom God’s spirit rests, the one who will bring justice to the nations, the one who will be the light of the nations. Last Sunday, on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, we had heard about the nations drawing closer to a new light. Jesus Christ is the servant in whom God delights, He is the long-awaited anointed one, He Himself is the new light of the world.
In the second reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter speaks convincingly to underline that Jesus Christ is not only the Lord’s anointed, not only is He the Messiah – He Himself is God, the “Lord of all”. In fact, Christ also holds power over the devil, as St. Peter also makes clear.
On the left-hand side of the church, there is a painting depicting the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. If you look at it closely, beside Jesus and St. John, there is a third figure, standing on the left-hand side of the painting. An unidentified person. Perhaps the painter wanted to depict an opening, or room, for you and me? This is because in the baptism of Jesus, our own baptism is mystically, spiritually foretold. In a wonderful way, the benefits of Jesus’ baptism flow unto you and me. St. Thomas Aquinas mentions the water, the Spirit, and the divine voice, which have the following consequences: “the soul is cleansed…the grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted…and the recipient is adopted as a beloved child of God” (Ignatius Study Bible, 2010, pg. 12). Jesus’ perfect human nature props up, strengthens, rebuilds, our own weak human nature. Jesus stands in our place, the place of sinners – though He Himself is without sin – and accepts the burden of a human life, becoming similar to us in “all things except sin” (Gaudium et Spes, 22). Saint Cyril of Alexandria, one of the Fathers of the Church puts it this way: „The only-begotten Son receives the Spirit, but not for his own advantage…He receives it to renew our nature in its entirety…for us in him” (Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Breviary, vol. 1, pg. 604).
Let us appreciate and be thankful for the day of our baptism. It is on that day, that in a sacramental and very real way, we found a spiritual home on this earth. Let us be thankful for those who brought us to baptism, be it our parents, grandparents, or others – let us be also thankful for our godparents. It is by the way of baptism, that we too can open ourselves to the possibility of hearing the voice of the Father: this is my beloved son, this is my beloved daughter. Finally, let us be mindful also of the obligations that our baptism brings us, among them, a life of faith, which needs to be continually nourished by prayer.
As we contemplate the baptism of Jesus, and as we live our own baptism, let us call upon the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who teaches and guides us in the life of faith.
(Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, OMI, Jan. 12, 2020)