Sunday 12 January 2025- The Baptism of our Lord (Year C)
Mass Readings: Is 40:1-5. 9-11 Ps
104 Tit 2:11-14, 3: 4-7 Lk 3:15-16. 21-22
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of
Our Lord, marking the conclusion of the Christmas season. This significant
event is recorded in all four Gospels (Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Jn 1:29-34; Lk
3:21-22). Throughout the season of Advent, we have been reflecting on the
appearance and teachings of St. John the Baptist, a prophet mistaken for the
Messiah because of his life of austerity and penance. John’s mission was to
bear witness to Christ and call people to repentance. When Jesus came to be
baptized, God the Father bore witness to Him as the Beloved Son, and the Spirit
descended upon Him, strengthening and anointing Him for the public ministry He
was about to embark upon.
The Humility of John the Baptist
John the Baptist exemplifies extraordinary humility in
his encounter with Jesus at the Jordan. When Jesus approached him to be
baptized, John objected, recognizing his unworthiness. As the Gospel of Matthew
recounts, John said, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to
me?" But Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in
this way to fulfil all righteousness." Only then did John consent to
baptize Jesus (Mt 3:13-15).
The humility of John the Baptist is truly extraordinary.
His sole mission was to reveal Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, and he
proclaimed, "I am not worthy to untie the thong of His sandals" (Lk
3:16). This statement not only highlights John’s sense of unworthiness but also
underscores his recognition of the profound distance between himself and Jesus,
viewing them as servant and Master respectively. By acknowledging Christ's
holiness, John humbly admitted that, as an ordinary human being, he was unworthy
even to draw near to the Lord. Furthermore, John distinguished his baptism with
water from Jesus' baptism, which would be with the Holy Spirit and fire: "As
for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and
I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and fire. (Lk 3:16). This contrast underscores John's role as
the forerunner of Christ.
The first reading from Isaiah proclaims: "A voice
cries out: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the
desert a highway for our God’" (Is 40:3). John the Baptist fulfilled this
prophecy, calling people to repentance and pointing to Jesus, who baptizes with
the Holy Spirit and fire—a symbol of salvation and purification. This is also
the message of St. Paul in his letter to Titus: when the kindness of God our
Savior and His love for humanity appeared, Jesus saved us—not because of deeds
we had done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing
of rebirth in baptism and the renewal by the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:4-5).
Earlier, when priests and Levites questioned John about
his role, he responded with humility and conviction, bearing witness to Jesus.
He refused to claim greatness for himself, even when others sought to elevate
him. John declared, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you
do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong
of his sandal" (Lk 3:16; Jn 1:25-27). Through his testimony, John called
people to prepare their hearts for the Messiah.
Jesus Aligns Himself with Sinners
John’s baptism was one of repentance for the forgiveness
of sins, yet Jesus—the sinless Son of God—chose to partake in it. In doing so,
Jesus stood in solidarity with sinners, fulfilling what was expected of those
who sought conversion. This act reveals the depth of God's compassion for His
creation.
People from all walks of life came to John to be baptised
Yet, when Jesus stood in line with sinners to receive baptism, John must have
been profoundly moved. Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, did not need baptism for
repentance but chose to be baptized to reveal the Holy Trinity and to identify
with humanity.
The baptism of Jesus teaches Christians an important
lesson: God’s justice is not one of condemnation but of mercy and solidarity.
Jesus’ mission was to welcome sinners, invite them to experience the Father’s
mercy, and lead them to a life of freedom from sin and death. He never turned
away from sinners but embraced them, offering hope and renewal.
Just as water washes the body, so too does the Holy
Spirit cleanse the soul. In Jesus, God does not accuse or reject us for our
sins. Instead, He identifies with us, making Himself one with us so that we
might become one with Him.
The Significance of Jesus’ Baptism
St. John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins (Lk 3:3). Yet Jesus, who was sinless, humbly stood in
line to be baptized by John. This act of humility is beautifully captured in
St. Matthew’s Gospel: "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan,
to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so
now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he
consented" (Mt 3:13-15).
Jesus’ baptism foreshadowed his sacrificial death on the
Cross and prefigured the baptism of grace we receive. His submission fulfilled
God’s will, as foretold in Isaiah: "He was numbered with the
transgressors; he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the
transgressors" (Is 53:12).
Someone More Powerful than Myself
John the Baptist addressed the people by highlighting the
greatness of the Messiah in comparison to himself: "I baptize you with
water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not worthy to untie
the strap of His sandals" (Lk 3:16).
John's profound humility is evident in his acknowledgment
of the Messiah's superiority. He regarded himself as unworthy even to perform
the lowliest task of a servant—untying the Messiah's sandals and washing His
feet. John saw his role as that of a precursor, a messenger paving the way for
the Messiah, as prophesied in Malachi (3:1; 4:5) and echoed in Luke (1:17, 76;
3:4-6). Embracing his prophetic mission, John firmly declared Jesus as the One
“more powerful” than himself. Later in the Gospel, Luke further demonstrates
Jesus' unparalleled power, showing Him as mightier even than Satan (Lk 11:22).
Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire
John the Baptist’s words underscore the distinction
between his ministry and that of Jesus:
"I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Lk 3:16; Mt 3:11).
This contrast highlights the temporal nature of John's
baptism with water, which served as a preparation for Jesus' transformative
baptism involving the Holy Spirit and fire. At first glance, the text appears
to suggest two baptisms—one with the Holy Spirit and another with fire.
However, a closer reading suggests that these two aspects are part of a
singular, profound reality. The same group baptized by John would later
experience the Messiah’s baptism, characterized by the Spirit's power and
purifying fire.
In Acts, on the day of Pentecost, we find a unique
instance where both the Holy Spirit and fire are explicitly connected: "And
tongues as of fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and they rested
on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts
2:3-4).
Interestingly, most references to baptism in the Holy
Spirit in Scripture do not include fire (e.g., Acts 1:5; 11:6). This
distinction raises the question: What does “fire” represent in Luke 3:16?
The Dual Meaning of Fire
In Luke 3:16-17, the "fire" is associated with
divine judgment:"His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing
floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn the chaff with
unquenchable fire" (Lk 3:17).
Here, fire symbolizes the fate of those who reject Jesus'
call to repentance. However, fire also conveys purification and cleansing. In
the first century, the outpouring of the Spirit in the "last days"
was understood as both a means of salvation and a vehicle of judgment. The
Spirit of God purifies believers from sin, as reflected in Isaiah 4:4.
The association between fire, judgment, and the Spirit is
evident in various passages (Joel 2:28-30; Isa 29:6; 31:9; Ezek 38:22; Amos
7:4). Jesus Himself declared: "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how
I wish it were already kindled!" (Lk 12:49).
Luke frequently uses fire as a metaphor for divine
judgment (Lk 3:9, 17; 9:54; 17:29) and even links it to division (Lk 12:49-53).
The message is clear: those who heed John’s prophetic call to repentance
receive the Spirit's purifying power, while those who reject it face fiery
judgment.
John’s baptism with water symbolized preparation, but
Jesus' baptism brings transformation. The baptism in the Holy Spirit equips
believers with divine power, cleansing them and enabling them to live as God’s
children. Conversely, the baptism of fire signifies judgment for those who fail
to repent and accept the Messiah.
This dual reality challenges us to reflect on our
response to Jesus' call. Do we open our hearts to the Spirit’s purifying work,
or do we risk facing the fire of judgment? Let us embrace the Spirit and live
as faithful witnesses to Christ's redemptive power.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
From the beginning of creation, the Spirit of God has
been active. In Genesis, we read that the Spirit of God hovered over the
waters, bringing forth life (Gen 1:2). It was the same Spirit who overshadowed
Mary, enabling her to conceive the human and divine life of Jesus (Lk 1:35).
Later, the Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to proclaim
Christ’s message with courage (Acts 2:4).
Jesus Himself promised that His disciples would share in
His baptism: "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism
with which I am baptized, you will be baptized" (Mk 10:39). Through our
own baptism “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”
(Mt 28:19), we, too, receive the Holy Spirit. As a result, the Holy Trinity
makes its dwelling within us (Jn 14:23).
The presence of the Spirit transforms our lives, drawing us closer to God and entrusting us with His divine mission. It is through the Spirit that we become new creations, empowered to live as children of God.
Two Divine Manifestations at Jesus’ Baptism
When Jesus was baptized, two profound events occurred:
1. The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit descended upon
Jesus in bodily form like a dove, symbolizing grace and divine anointing.
The heavens opening at Jesus' baptism signifies the
arrival of grace through Him. St. Titus summarizes this grace: "For the
grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all" (Tit 2:11).
Through baptism, the waters of the Jordan were
sanctified, symbolizing purification and salvation. St. Paul affirms this in
his Letter to the Romans: "We were buried therefore with him by baptism
into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory
of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4).
2. The Father’s Satisfaction in His Beloved Son
The second profound aspect of the Baptism of Jesus is
that it begins not with Him but with the Father. The declaration from heaven, "This is my
Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased" (Lk 3:22; Mt 3:17),
underscores this truth. These words, spoken immediately after Jesus receives
baptism, affirm the Father's delight in His Son.
By analogy, we can reflect on whether our lives elicit
similar delight from those who love us. Can our parents, for instance, echo
these words about us? Jesus receives the Father’s satisfaction because He
chooses humility, aligning Himself with sinners, the marginalized, and the
outcasts. He does not seek self-affirmation but rather the affirmation of the
Father through obedience.
The Father's Unconditional Love
This event reveals a beautiful reality: we are loved not
because we are inherently good but because we are children of God. The Father's
love is unconditional, not dependent on our merits or achievements. It is a
love rooted in His nature and in our identity as His creation.
The Father’s affirmation of Jesus invites us to listen to
the words of the Beloved Son. As St. Matthew recounts, “This is my Son, the
Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17). These words remind us that we
are never abandoned by God, no matter our failures or shortcomings.
Rediscovering the Father’s Love
In the light of this revelation, we are called to
rediscover the loving embrace of the Father. He always extends His hand to lift
us up, forgives us unconditionally, and renews our hope. This is a Father who
does not abandon any of His children but loves them so deeply that He gave His
only Son for their salvation.
The Transformative Power of Baptism
In baptism, our original sins are washed away, and we
become a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). The Holy Spirit sanctifies us,
strengthens our relationship with God, and empowers us to bear witness to
Christ (Acts 1:8). Baptism signifies both purification and transformation, as
we rise to new life in Christ.
Points for Personal Reflection
The humility of John the Baptist, the solidarity of Jesus
with sinners, and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit provide us with
profound lessons. Let us reflect on the following:
Do we, like John, bear witness to Christ with humility
and conviction?
Do we accept Jesus’ invitation to walk in newness of life
through repentance and the Spirit's guidance?
Do we recognize the presence of the Holy Trinity in our lives
and allow it to transform us?
Do I take time to listen to the voice of the Lord,
affirming His love for me?
Do I truly accept that I am a beloved child of God,
cherished and forgiven?
Do I allow the Father’s unconditional love to transform
my life and guide my steps?
Let us renew our commitment to our baptismal promises and
strive to live a life guided by the Holy Spirit. Inspired by the example of
Jesus and John the Baptist, may we walk in humility, serve others, and live in
the grace of God. And may the baptism of Jesus inspire us to embrace humility,
welcome God’s mercy, and live in the power of the Spirit, bearing witness to
the transformative love of Christ. May the humility of John the Baptist and the
grace of Jesus' baptism inspire us to live as faithful witnesses to Christ.
