BAPTSIM OF THE LORD
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
Is 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matt 3:13-17
THEME: BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR BAPTISMAL PROMISES
Today the Church celebrates today the Baptism of the Lord. This Solemnity marks the end of the Christmas Season. Baptism begins the active life of Jesus and spiritual life of every Christian. With this feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, the first Sunday of the Church Year has started. This Sunday is, therefore, the beginning of the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year.
Our readings of today prepare our minds for this celebration.
The message of Isaiah in the first reading (Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7) points to Jesus who submits himself to be baptized by John as one who is endowed with the spirit whom the Lord delights in. He projects that Jesus would establish true justice and be a light of the nations and open the eyes of the blind, free captives from prison as well as those living in darkness from the dungeon.
In the second reading (Acts 10:34-38), St. Peter assures that the Lord does not have favourites but loves anyone from any nationality who fears God and does what is acceptable to him. He contends that Jesus it was who brought the Good News of peace after he had been baptized in the Jordan by John and endowed with the Holy Spirit; went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.
The Gospel (Matthew 3:13-17) narrates that Jesus appeared from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. It disclosed that John wanted to dissuade him but Jesus insisted that it was to fulfil all righteousness. It was at that that John gave in and baptized Jesus. Just then, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended on him like a dove and the voice of the father said: “This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.”
During our catechism classes we were thought that baptism: “is a sacrament which washes away original sin, makes us children of God and members of the Church” . following this definition, Jesus does not need baptism.
Why then did Jesus receive baptism?
Christ voluntarily submitted Himself to be baptized in order to identify Himself with the sinful humanity. He did not come to crush the weak but be merciful to them. Jesus has compassion for the sinners. We also must put on the compassion and meekness of Jesus. Like Christ who joined the sinners in being baptized, we also need to be humble and join others in confessing and pleading for the forgiveness of their sins instead of asking God to crush them.
Secondly, that Jesus insisted on being baptized by John, just like all the other sinful mortals, was a proof of His love for us and His willingness to undergo any humiliation for our sakes. He had no sins of which to repent. But that day in the Jordan, Jesus was the representative of all the sinners of the world. According to St Paul, "christ was without sin , but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God . (2 Cor 5:21, Rom 8:3).
Thirdly Jesus receive baptism in order to sanctify the water of Baptism. The baptism of Jesus was not a case of Him being sanctified by the water He was baptized in, it was rather a case of Him sanctifying that water and with it, all other waters in the whole world, thereby giving them the power to sanctify us, so that when we are baptised in the Spirit and water, we may be cleansed of all our sins and be restored to the status of the children of God.
Christ's baptism is also a proof of God's approval of Christ. At His baptism the heavens were opened, the heavens that Adam's sin had closed. A voice from heaven was heard, *"This is my beloved Son..."* In the same vein, like Christ, by the act of baptism God makes a total claim on us and makes us His own.
Baptism is Obligatory for all Christians: By submitting himself to be baptised, Jesus shows us that baptism is obligatory for all Christians as a means of salvation just as it shows the purification of all waters of baptism.
So, what happened at the baptism of Jesus happened at our baptism too. God called us by name. At our baptism, God said to each of us, 'You are my beloved son,' or 'You are my beloved daughter.' And the Spirit descended on us, in order to help us to live the life of a Christian and to participate in the mission of Christ.
Moreover, in baptism Christians participates in the triple office of Christ: His priestly, prophetic and royal office. The laity, for instance, participate in the priestly office, in which Jesus has offered Himself on the Cross and offers Himself continually in the Eucharistic celebration, by uniting with Him in the offering of themselves and their activities. If their prayers, good works, daily toil, suffering, and family life, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy are done in the Spirit, they become sacrifices pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
Also, the faithful participate in the kingly office of Christ by mortification to conquer in themselves the reign of sin, and by working to help bring the reign of truth, justice and peace wherever they found themselves.
The laity also participate in the prophetic office of Christ by bringing the gospel to the world. By the virtue of our baptism, we are all common priests. We have the obligation to be helpers in Christ's work of saving the world. We are called to be partners of Christ's mission in our own sphere of living, and to make the world a better place to live in.
As we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the lord, we are today reminded of our Baptismal promises. How dedicated and committed are we?
Do you reject Satan?
And all his works?
And all his empty promises
Do you believe in God the father?
And the son
And holy spirit, the Catholic Church, communion of saints, and forgiveness of sins. Resurrection of the boy and life everlasting?
May God Grant us the grace to be faithful to our promises.
Is 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matt 3:13-17
THEME: BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR BAPTISMAL PROMISES
Today the Church celebrates today the Baptism of the Lord. This Solemnity marks the end of the Christmas Season. Baptism begins the active life of Jesus and spiritual life of every Christian. With this feast of the Baptism of Jesus Christ, the first Sunday of the Church Year has started. This Sunday is, therefore, the beginning of the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year.
The message of Isaiah in the first reading (Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7) points to Jesus who submits himself to be baptized by John as one who is endowed with the spirit whom the Lord delights in. He projects that Jesus would establish true justice and be a light of the nations and open the eyes of the blind, free captives from prison as well as those living in darkness from the dungeon.
In the second reading (Acts 10:34-38), St. Peter assures that the Lord does not have favourites but loves anyone from any nationality who fears God and does what is acceptable to him. He contends that Jesus it was who brought the Good News of peace after he had been baptized in the Jordan by John and endowed with the Holy Spirit; went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.
The Gospel (Matthew 3:13-17) narrates that Jesus appeared from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. It disclosed that John wanted to dissuade him but Jesus insisted that it was to fulfil all righteousness. It was at that that John gave in and baptized Jesus. Just then, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended on him like a dove and the voice of the father said: “This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.”
During our catechism classes we were thought that baptism: “is a sacrament which washes away original sin, makes us children of God and members of the Church” . following this definition, Jesus does not need baptism.
Why then did Jesus receive baptism?
Christ voluntarily submitted Himself to be baptized in order to identify Himself with the sinful humanity. He did not come to crush the weak but be merciful to them. Jesus has compassion for the sinners. We also must put on the compassion and meekness of Jesus. Like Christ who joined the sinners in being baptized, we also need to be humble and join others in confessing and pleading for the forgiveness of their sins instead of asking God to crush them.
Secondly, that Jesus insisted on being baptized by John, just like all the other sinful mortals, was a proof of His love for us and His willingness to undergo any humiliation for our sakes. He had no sins of which to repent. But that day in the Jordan, Jesus was the representative of all the sinners of the world. According to St Paul, "christ was without sin , but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God . (2 Cor 5:21, Rom 8:3).
Thirdly Jesus receive baptism in order to sanctify the water of Baptism. The baptism of Jesus was not a case of Him being sanctified by the water He was baptized in, it was rather a case of Him sanctifying that water and with it, all other waters in the whole world, thereby giving them the power to sanctify us, so that when we are baptised in the Spirit and water, we may be cleansed of all our sins and be restored to the status of the children of God.
Christ's baptism is also a proof of God's approval of Christ. At His baptism the heavens were opened, the heavens that Adam's sin had closed. A voice from heaven was heard, *"This is my beloved Son..."* In the same vein, like Christ, by the act of baptism God makes a total claim on us and makes us His own.
Baptism is Obligatory for all Christians: By submitting himself to be baptised, Jesus shows us that baptism is obligatory for all Christians as a means of salvation just as it shows the purification of all waters of baptism.
So, what happened at the baptism of Jesus happened at our baptism too. God called us by name. At our baptism, God said to each of us, 'You are my beloved son,' or 'You are my beloved daughter.' And the Spirit descended on us, in order to help us to live the life of a Christian and to participate in the mission of Christ.
Moreover, in baptism Christians participates in the triple office of Christ: His priestly, prophetic and royal office. The laity, for instance, participate in the priestly office, in which Jesus has offered Himself on the Cross and offers Himself continually in the Eucharistic celebration, by uniting with Him in the offering of themselves and their activities. If their prayers, good works, daily toil, suffering, and family life, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy are done in the Spirit, they become sacrifices pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
Also, the faithful participate in the kingly office of Christ by mortification to conquer in themselves the reign of sin, and by working to help bring the reign of truth, justice and peace wherever they found themselves.
The laity also participate in the prophetic office of Christ by bringing the gospel to the world. By the virtue of our baptism, we are all common priests. We have the obligation to be helpers in Christ's work of saving the world. We are called to be partners of Christ's mission in our own sphere of living, and to make the world a better place to live in.
As we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the lord, we are today reminded of our Baptismal promises. How dedicated and committed are we?
Do you reject Satan?
And all his works?
And all his empty promises
Do you believe in God the father?
And the son
And holy spirit, the Catholic Church, communion of saints, and forgiveness of sins. Resurrection of the boy and life everlasting?
May God Grant us the grace to be faithful to our promises.
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