REFLECTION FOR TODAY,
January 10, 2021
By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Mk. 1:9-11
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord concludes for us the Christmas Season and transitions us into the beginning of Ordinary Time. From a Scriptural point of view, this event in Jesus’ life is also a transitional moment from His hidden life in Nazareth to the beginning of His public ministry.
Our gospel reference today reflects what John the Baptist had already said about Jesus being baptized with the Spirit. The baptism of Jesus concludes with the Father’s voice announcing who Jesus is. Thus, the Son sent by the Father, is sealed with and becomes the agent of the Holy Spirit, the power of God in the world.
Why was Jesus baptized? We recall that John’s baptism was one of repentance, an act by which he invited his followers and the people to turn from sin and to turn to God. But Jesus was sinless, so what was the reason for His Baptism? Jesus was baptized not to cleanse him from sin but so that by his baptism, he will make the waters of baptism holy as well as fulfilling all that was said and meant to be.
The baptism of Jesus was to reveal his true identity. Jesus made manifest his identity through His humble act of baptism. “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” spoke the voice of the Father in Heaven.
In addition, the Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove. Thus, the baptism of Jesus was in part a public declaration of Who He is. He is the Son of God, a divine Person Who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This public testimony is an “epiphany,” a manifestation of His true identity for all to see as He prepares to begin His public ministry.
The baptism of Jesus also manifested his incredible humility. He is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, but He allows Himself to become identified with sinners. By sharing in an act that was focused upon repentance, Jesus speaks volumes through His action of baptism. He came to unite Himself with us sinners, to enter our sin and to enter into our death.
Jesus by entering the water of baptism, he symbolically enters into our death itself, which is the result of our sin, and rises triumphantly, allowing us to also rise with Him to new life. For this reason, Jesus’ baptism was a way of Him “baptizing” the waters, so to speak, so that water itself, from that moment onward, would be endowed with His divine presence and could be communicated to all who are baptized after Him. Therefore, sinful humanity is now able to meet divinity through baptism.
As Christians, when we share in this new baptism, through water that has now been sanctified by our Lord Jesus Christ, we see in Jesus’ baptism a revelation of who we become in Him. Just as the Father spoke and declared Him as His Son, and just as the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, so also in our baptism we become the adopted children of the Father and are filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus’ baptism gives clarity as to whom we become in Christian baptism.
As we celebrate the feast of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ today reflect on your own baptism and what Baptism is about. Baptism is all about. Baptism is about, being wash of our sins, entering into a covenant with God, being witnesses of God and abandoning our sins. The 4-letter word of RICE can summarize what Baptism is all about: R – Rebirth, I- Initiation, C- Consecration and E – Empowerment.
Lord, I thank You for Your humble act of baptism by which You opened the Heavens to all who are sinners. May I open my heart to the unfathomable grace of my own baptism each and every day and more fully live with You as a child of the Father, filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus, I trust in You.