“Thus says the Lord: Here is My servant whom I uphold, My chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put My spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:1)
Reflections on the readings for The Baptism of the Lord (January 9, 2022): IS 42:1-4,6-7; PS 29:1-2,3-4,9-10; ACTS 10:34-38; LK 3:15-16,21-22
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Through our baptism, whether as an infant or an adult, we declare our fidelity to Christ. Yet we must understand that we have to embrace our faith daily if we are to emulate Him.
The Baptism of the Lord is a beautiful time to meditate on His care and concern for each one of us, His people. He wanted those gathered on the banks of the Jordan River and all of us now to comprehend, at least to some degree, how much we mean to Him and how much He wants us to follow Him. It is the great joy of the Sacrament of Baptism that we share this moment with Christ Himself. Unlike us, He needed no forgiveness of sins because He was God as well as human and wholly innocent. But for us to better appreciate the complete sacrifice that He would make of Himself, our Lord was willingly baptized. Jesus came to us out of love, was baptized out of love, and laid down His life out of love. In the second reading today, we hear St. Peter say that “(God) proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all … beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:36-38). And because of Him, God is with us, too.
Through our baptism, whether as an infant or an adult, we declare our fidelity to Christ. Yet we must understand that we have to embrace our faith daily if we are to emulate Him. Just as with our Lord and His mission, our baptism announced the start of our belief in Him and journey with Him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that “Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop.” On this day commemorating Jesus’ Baptism, we can resolve to stay true to Him and to strive each day to live our faith with whole-hearted devotion, gratitude, and perseverance.
Suggested missionary action: Let us pray for all who are preparing to be baptized at Easter. We can also remember those preparing for the other sacraments or to be received into the Church. And let us thank God for the gift of faith and the opportunity to share it with those we meet.
