Deacon Ron's Homily, Baptism of the Lord, Cycle C, January 10, 2016

Good Morning. Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a glorious transition from the Christmas Season to Ordinary time.   Last week we celebrated the Epiphany where the magi from the east sought out the newborn king guided by a star.   They found the king bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh and were overjoyed at his finding. These kings were Gentiles, a sign indicating that Jesus came for everyone, not just the Jews.  This week we have another epiphany in the gift that God gives us to be adopted sons and daughters ushered in through the Baptism of the Lord. 

In today’s Gospel Jesus in baptized in the Jordon River by John.   Why would Jesus need to be baptized?  He was without sin so what would be the purpose of his baptism?  John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.  The Jews who came to John were sinners called to reform their lives.  The people thought John was the Christ, and were drawn to prepare for the Messiah’s coming.   John admitted he was not the Christ, saying he was “not even worthy to loosen the thongs his sandals” which was a task only the lowliest of servants would do.   Jesus was the Messiah, but he came as a humble servant.    He did not need to be baptized, but he chose to in order to be in solidarity with the people who were struggling with their own sinful nature.  Jesus also allowed John to be baptized him in order to sanctify the water to be a life-giving source to baptize all the people who chose to follow him. 

Jesus’ baptism by John was the beginning of his public ministry. This was a major spiritual

event ushering in the mission that Jesus came to fulfill.   After Jesus’ baptism the heavens are opened and the Holy Spirit visibly descends upon him like a dove.  The Father’s voice is heard from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Here the Father expresses his pleasure for Jesus fulfilling his purpose to be in solidarity with the people. The Holy Spirit came down at that moment as a sort of authorization to send Jesus on the mission he was called to.

These scene echoes what we heard from the prophet from Isaiah: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am well pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit.  Jesus came to be a light to the nations, opening the eyes of the blind and freeing the prisoners from the bondage of sin.  He came to free them from sin, by showing them how to live as a humble servant and taking on their sin in his sacrifice on the cross.   

This baptism in the Jordon River by John was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and was a sign of a different kind of baptism he would undergo.  Jesus would live among the people for the next three years teaching them to love God and neighbor, performing miracles, and healings those who were ill. John spoke of a baptism that Jesus would perform with the Holy Spirit and fire.  This was a prelude to the baptism through the fire of his love by his death on the cross.  This would be the death to sin by Jesus’ solidarity with us by taking on our sins in offering to the Father, and restoring our hope to eternal life through His resurrection.

What does Jesus’ baptism mean to us?  It provides the doorway for us to become God’s children through the sacrament of baptism. In our own baptism we go down in the waters of death that drowns our sins. Our Baptismal font is a perfect symbol of this.  During the Easter vigil our catechumens walk down the steps into the water.  This symbolizes dying to sin.  The priest then pours the water over the catechumen’s head saying: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”.    They then climb up the steps out of the water and are raised to new life in Christ as adopted sons and daughters of the Father receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus accompanies us as we rise out of the waters and become God’s beloved of whom He is well pleased. We become co-heirs to the hope of eternal life through Jesus sacrifice in solidarity with us.   What a wonderful gift to rejoice in!

Each time we come to participate in the Eucharist we are strengthened through the same gifts we received at our baptism.   The priest invokes the Holy Spirit over the gifts of bread and wine.   We hear Jesus words in the offering his body and blood for us in the baptism of his death.  We join together with him in praying the Our Father as brothers and sisters in Christ.  Finally we receive his living Eucharistic presence in communion to nourish us on our journey to eternal life.   The living waters we received at baptism become a river of strength each time we receive the Eucharist. 

This Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a joyous occasion to bring bridge from the Christmas Season into Ordinary time.   It’s a reminder for us to appreciate God’s mercy through Christ’s sacrifice in solidarity with us to provide hope for eternal life.   Let us now renew our own Baptism and respond with joy as his beloved adopted sons and daughters to become instruments of God’s mercy during this special Jubilee year of Mercy. God bless you.