THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS BAPTISM FOR US

HOMILY ON THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD, YEAR C 

(Is. 42:1-4, 6-7, Ps.28:1-4,9-10, Acts 10:34-38 & Lk.13:15-16.21-22)

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS BAPTISM FOR US

This Sunday the Church commemorates THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD. This Feast, liturgically marks the end of the Christmas season. And the celebration calls us to reflect how Jesus humbly presents himself before John the Baptist for baptism in the River Jordan. We see in Jesus, a man without sin accepting baptism on our behalf.

The big question one might ask here is, why would Jesus the sinless one submit himself to be baptized? Since as we know, Baptism is a Sacrament that washes away our sins, and Jesus himself as the Scripture says had no sin in himself. John the Baptist even questions why Jesus should come to him for Baptism. To this, Jesus simply says that it would be proper for him to fulfil all that righteousness demands.

Today's Gospel narrative (Lk.13:15-16.21-22) has it that, as soon as Jesus was baptised and he was at prayer, suddenly the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily shape like a dove. And instantly a voice spoke from heaven saying, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.' This voice was surely, the voice of God the Father giving approval as well as inaugurating Jesus the Son, on his salvific mission with the anointing of Holy Spirit which descended upon Him in the likeness of a dove. 

Jesus' baptism, therefore, marks the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. So by his submission to baptism Jesus expresses his readiness to obey and accept the will of the Father who sends him on his redemptive mission. By so doing, Jesus leaves us an example to follow, as St Maximus of Turin remarks,' Christ is baptized, so that All Christians will follow after him with confidence'.

Again, Jesus' Baptism sanctifies and makes holy the waters of our own baptism. In the words of St Maximus of Turin, 'Christ is baptized, not to be made holy by the water, but to make the water of our baptism holy, and to purify the water which he touched'. 

In today's Second Reading from the Acts of the Apostles we are presented with a sermon which St Peter delivered in the house of a Roman Centurion, Cornelius, just before baptizing Cornelius and his household.  Cornelius was -the very first None Jewish Christian. Addressing Cornelius and his household, Peter said in his sermon: "Now I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him (Acts 10:34-35). 

In the OLD COVENANT, God chose the Jews, and once one is born a Jew, one belongs automatically to this covenant people of God. The criterion for belonging to God’s covenant people was natural birth. Hence, Non-Jews or Gentiles, were automatically excluded from that covenant. 

However, in the NEW COVENANT IN CHRIST, all that changes. Now, God has no preference for any nation over others. And that is the overwhelming truth which Peter had suddenly come to realize that, “God has no favourites, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him”. In Christian baptism therefore, we are all chosen to become PEOPLE OF THE NEW COVENANT, children of God who are, equally loved by God as were the covenant children of God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

Nevertheless, what happens after our baptism, whether we turn out to become saints or sinners, depends not on the presence or absence of God’s love for us but on how much we respond to God's love and do what is right as regards to our baptismal commitment. 

In the light of this, we are encouraged today to reflect on our own baptismal commitment and the mission God has assigned for each of us at baptism. With our Baptism we are meant to; LOVE GOD AND HOLD ONTO HIM WITH OUR WHOLE HEART AND ALSO TO REJECT SATAN. All of us are called to carry out this fundamental baptismal obligation in our respective status; as Parents, Youths, Teachers, Ministers of Religion, Medical personnel etc. The Catechism of the Catholic Church articulates this baptismal obligation as follows; i) To believe in Jesus and to make his teachings our guide, ii) To listen to the Holy Mother -the Church,  iii) To reject Satan and all his pomp.

In conclusion, Christ is baptized, so that All Christians will follow after him with confidence. And by our baptism, we are ALL commissioned to be members of Christ's Mystical Body, irrespective of our diverse nationalities. We are to be, Christ’s mouth speak in the world of today. What a special and challenging vocation that is! Obviously, the moment we begin to see our baptismal commitment as a call to follow Christ more closely and to embrace his mission, we will be very much moved to live our lives in loving obedience to Christ and to give Him the first place in our lives and allow His principles and values to determine and colour our daily lives, decisions and choices.

Reflection by 

Fr Damian Ikemefuna Ozokwere CSSp