We celebrate the Baptism of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior
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 “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Now we move swiftly to the start of His divine mission to rescue His beloved people of all times and places from the deadly cost of sin.
With our celebration of our Lord’s Baptism we end the Church’s season of Christmas and head into a period of Ordinary Time prior to Lent. We have been contemplating the Nativity and infancy of Christ. Now we move swiftly to the start of His divine mission to rescue His beloved people of all times and places from the deadly cost of sin. An account of His Baptism appears in each of the Gospels. In Luke, the focus is primarily on what happens directly after St. John the Baptist’s actions. “After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:21-22).
This sacred event reveals the Father and Holy Spirit joining the Son and acknowledging Him and all He is about to do. This happens while Jesus is praying. Luke frequently mentions Christ at prayer at significant times during His life. Now the Blessed Trinity is present in a special way as our Lord starts on His public ministry to share the Good News of salvation with all who will hear Him. Soon we will witness His many miracles and His great mercy for all, especially those who are poor, suffering, and at the edges of society. In time, we will recognize the sacrifice He makes of His own life for our sake. But at this moment, we understand what those around Jesus that day probably could not -- that the young unknown carpenter from Nazareth was the Son of God incarnate. The world would change with every word He would say and every act of love He would offer to those who paid attention to Him, who believed in Him, and who followed Him. This day is also a reminder of our own baptism. Unlike us, Christ had no need to repent or turn away from sin. Instead, He wanted to identify with us in all our frailty in receiving this sacrament that is so essential to Christians. And like, our Savior, we, too, are called into the presence of the Trinity when the priest proclaims, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
