10th January, 2010 Baptism of Our Lord - C
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It has always been a bit of an intriguing thing that Jesus went to John the Baptist for Baptism. Why in the world did Jesus, God’s Son and our messiah, go to John the Baptist and request baptism.
John the Baptist was performing baptisms for the repentance of sin… and we believe Jesus was without sin…. So why was it so important that he be baptised….
But, in some way, calling John’s baptism a ‘baptism of repentance’ is a ‘shorthand’ summary of a much more complex reality.
Isn’t it true that those who were coming forward for John’s baptism, were not only saying they needed to repent from sin, but also.. John’s baptism represented an extraordinary Movement towards God by the people…../ It was a world-shaping.. and world shattering tme… when people were being called to a new and deeper relationship with their God… a radical calling to be part of God;s Kingdom…..…. John’s preaching and his invitation for people to be baptised…. Was a definite public action to confirm that these people were wanting to be part of (and affiliated with) the movement of God’s Kingdom //…the Kingdom John the Baptist had been preaching about….. and preparing the people for…
This was a key moment in Jesus’ ministry. From this point on, he would commence a public and urgent ministry….
Jesus didn’t need to be forgiven any sin… (in fact, in this gospel version of Jesus’ baptism, it doesn’t say Jesus is LOOKING for baptism… it says he accepts baptism after all the others are baptised…………).. so perhaps it is better to say… Jesus did feel the strong need to be identified and get behind the movement of the Kingdom that John was preaching… but Jesus was the fulfilment of the Kingdom that John the Baptist was preaching about…. And in this act of baptism.. that fact was made quite clear…….. Jesus was identifying with all those who were committing themselves to the public way of the Kingdom of God….. which he embodies so perfectly and completely…. And when he was baptised.. the heavens resonated with that truth….
And Jesus actions were deeply successful…. The Father’s voice confirmed that this action he took was the right one….. and that he was revealed to be the chosen one, the son of God…. in whom his Heavenly Father is most pleased…
The words used by the Father are interesting too…
“you are my beloved Son” psalm 2. (was a passage traditionally interpreted by the people of this time as a declaration of the Messianic King…../
“In whom I am well pleased..” is a familiar line from the prophet Isaiah 42:1…. Which culminates in the suffering servant……..(chapter 53)… So, Jesus knew that his sonship and mission was always going to involve not glory and earthly dominion…. But suffering and the cross…….. The Cross loomed large in Jesus’ vision right from the outset…. But it makes sense in the total commitment of Jesus to the vision of God’s Kindgom… which would challenge contrary powers and priorities and require all the love and sacrifice one could possibly muster… and Jesus embodies this total commitment to his Father’s vision for the world and us….
Finally.. Jesus baptism by John the baptism…did the opposite, in one sense, that it would do for us… for us., it would forgive our sins… for Jesus… he made holy water that touched him…. By being baptised, Jesus invested baptism with the power of his presence and holiness… and the power the Holy spirit…..
We who have been baptised, are called to remember the fullness of the meaning of this baptism…. By being baptised… ” we are permanently connected to Jesus Christ, and we share in his life and his relationship to the Heavenly Father. Our baptism is a real union with the life, values and person of Jesus who is God made flesh. Let us be stirred into constant practical action to live the Good news in our lives.
Our Baptism is intended to have real, permanent and practical effect in our lives.
Our baptism, echoing Jesus’ actions in the Jordan… is a huge Yes.. by us… saying we too want to share and immerse ourselves in the values and movement towards God that the Good news embodies…. We want to be connected to jesus who is utterly committed to the establishment of the Kingdom in its fullness …… and we too, are aware of the cost of that commitment… in love that serves… love that suffers… and lives that make a difference and are founded on the values of Christ…
Let us ask Jesus, who made holy the waters of baptism, by his very self, to keep us committed to the vision of the kingdom in all ways and at all times…
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REFERENCES:
· FR. PAUL W. KELLY
· THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF MARK. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.
· SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
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