Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

01-09-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

John the Baptist fulfills his role as the precursor of the Messiah - proclaiming a baptism of repentance. He is the voice in the wilderness crying out: Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. People begin to wonder if John might be the awaited Messiah. John is quick to dismiss this claim by saying that someone mightier than him is coming, he baptizes with water, but He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

The baptism John performs is different from the Jewish ritual washing, just as the baptism of Jesus will be distinct from that of John. So that in the ritual baptism of the Apostles (after Jesus’ Ascension), Peter when asked: What should we do? – exhorts them to repentance and baptism in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. (Act. 2:38)

The accounts of Jesus’ baptism in the Gospel of Luke assume the participation of John the Baptist, before his arrest, cited in verse 20, of putting John in prison. All attention is on Jesus, whom John mentions as someone mightier than him. To present Jesus’ solidarity with the people, Luke associates Jesus’ baptism with others. He who is the Son of God is without sin - chooses to be with the crowd of sinners in baptism. These people probably listened to the preaching of John and were initially baptized by him. The willingness of Jesus to take on the fallen humanity; infected by the sin - gains a loud approval from the Father. Not only did the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus in the form of a dove: A voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.”

The voice from heaven reveals Jesus’ nature and mission: He is the divine Son of God. The “beloved” recalls the prophet Isaiah’s Suffering Servant. Jesus is the Beloved Son of God who is obedient to death, death on the cross for the salvation of many. In our baptism, we receive the dignity as adopted sons and daughters of God, which involves responsibility and a mission to witness God’s love to the world. Recalling our baptismal promises, we ask ourselves how we have lived them.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Lord’s Baptism, it reminds us of our baptism in Lord Jesus Christ, our promise to reject Satan and live lives pleasing to God the Father. Let us take a look at the way we are living our lives. Are we living a life that is pleasing to our loving God and Father? After the baptism of Jesus by John, a voice came from heaven that said: You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased. Modern man wants to have absolute control of one’s life, emphasizing heroic humanism without God. However, a loving God invites us to live by the virtues of humility and obedience. And to anchor our life to the vision and mission of His Kingdom.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. Taking the road of humility, the road less traveled, one cannot lose or be lost. The Lord Jesus always journey with the last, lost, and the least, He even came to John in humility to be baptized by him. Now, because of our baptism, we can call God our Father. As we journey on the road less traveled, He assures us of His power, presence, and love. Be still, and know that I am God. (Ps. 46:10)