HOMILY ON THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST

 

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD YEAR C

Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11; Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30; Titus 2: 11-14;  3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Today marks the END OF CHRISTMAS SEASON. Today is the FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.

I pray for you: May you live out your mission of sharing in the ministry of Jesus and of proclaiming the Good News of the love which God has for others. Amen.

Scriptures and writers said nothing about the life of Jesus Christ before the time of his baptism. The events of about twenty years of His life are completely unmentioned. It seems that He spent those years in helping in the family business and preparing Himself for what He was going to be doing. The turning point in His life was His Baptism by John the Baptist at River Jordan. It was a public manifestation of His role as the Messiah, the Son of God. 

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Just as Bishop Donald J Hying would say in his homily: We Christians reflect upon and celebrate the baptism of Jesus in significant ways: liturgically, at the conclusion of the Christmas season; devotionally, as the First Luminous Mystery of the Rosary; and theologically, as the scriptural prism for the meaning of Christian baptism.

THE MESSAGE OF THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS CHRIST

We are reminded as we recall our own Baptism, that like Jesus Christ, we are being sent out on a mission of proclaiming the Good News of the love of God for others. This is our calling and our mission. We must make known to others the message of Jesus and the salvation He brought us through His death and resurrection.  

We, as sons and daughters of God, must share the Gospel with others by doing good and allowing them to experience the grace that comes in and through Jesus. The readings today proclaim that Jesus is publicly beginning His role as the Servant of God and that God reveals to the people that Jesus is the beloved Son in Whom Father is pleased.  

The reading from Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 presents the Lord God inviting those who desire a closer relationship with Him to forsake their past ways of sin and seek Him. It also presents a message of consolation to the people of God. Console my people, console them says your God. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is ended, that her sin is atoned for, that she has received from the hand of the Lord double punishment for all her crimes. 

The Responsorial (Psalm 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30), shows the greatness of God. 

The Second Reading is Titus 2: 11-14; 3:4-7. It tells us that the grace of God has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. 

This reading dwells on the theme of the Trinity and that theme flows through the passage:  The Holy Spirit who testifies that Jesus is the Son of God and the Spirit who is present at the Baptism of Jesus Christ; the testimony of God the Father on behalf Jesus, who speaks favorably of Jesus in the Gospel today; the role of Jesus, bringing eternal life which is the life of the Triune God, to those who believe. 

The Gospel of today (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22) begins with the words of Luke concerning John the Baptist who proclaims that he, John, is not the Messiah, but only a servant of the One Who is coming. Jesus comes to John and is baptized by John. The Epiphany of Jesus as the Servant of God is revealed as the Holy Spirit appears as a dove and God speaks the words, You are my beloved, with You I am well pleased. 

 

Today, Jesus is officially and publicly being sent out on His mission; which is, to proclaim the Good News of the salvation of God in and through what Jesus will say and do, including His death and resurrection. God is acknowledging in the sight of the people that Jesus is the Son of God Who is to bring the message of salvation to the people. 

Then, our Baptism, in contrast to the baptism of Jesus, is the beginning of our life as adopted children of God. We are welcomed into the family of God.  Our baptism signifies both death and new life.  Ones old (sinful) life is put to death, and a new (graced, blessed, and God-like) life is given.  

Note that John the Baptist baptized Jews before Christ came on the scene. Where did he come by the practice of baptism? The liturgical use of water was common in the Jewish world. The Law of Moses required ablutions (washings) on the part of priests following certain sacrifices and on certain individuals who were unclean because of an infectious disease (Num. 19:1-22; Lev. 14,15, 16:24-28). The natural method of cleansing the body by washing and bathing in water was always customary in Israel. The washing of their clothes was an important means of sanctification imposed on the Israelites even before the law was given at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:10). The use of water for cleansing was used symbolically as well in such passages as Ezekiel 36:25 where God says, I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities . . . We do not believe that the practice of baptism for the remission of sins as taught in the New Testament was based in any way on the Old Testament, however the Old Testament washings with or in water that were for the purpose of physical cleansing can be seen as a type or shadow of New Testament baptism, which is for the purpose of spiritual cleansing (1 Peter 3:21). 

On the significance of the baptism by John, in Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist mentions the purpose of his baptisms: I baptize you with water for repentance. Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4: Johns baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. 

Then, why was Jesus Christ baptized? Several factors explain why the perfect Son of God chose to be baptized. First, Jesus sought to make a clear connection with John the Baptist. John was the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3). Second, The baptism of Jesus Christ connected the humanity of Jesus with the rest of humanity. Third, The baptism of Jesus Christ provided an example He expected other believers to follow. Fourth, the baptism of Jesus provided the first explicit mention in the New Testament involving all three members of the Triune God. 

The significance of our own baptism as children of God include: (1) Baptism is the first of the sacraments. It provides access to the other sacraments. (2) The Sacramental grace of baptism is a rebirth in Christ and opens a channel of blessing from God to the believer. (3) The gift of the Holy Spirit comes to a person through baptism. (4) Baptism makes a person an adopted son or daughter of God. Baptism consecrates a person to God. (5) Baptism grants admission into the body of Christ; that is, it makes one a church member. (6) The baptized person is elevated as priest, prophet and king. That is, the spiritual status. (7) Baptism is a spiritual cleansing (forgiveness). All sins, both original sin and personal sin, are washed away and forgiven, and purified. (8) Baptism makes a person a laborer in Christs vineyard and a minister of the Church (Apostolic Zeal) (9) Baptism clothes a person with immortality and gives a person a share in the redemption that Christ won on the Cross (Salvation).

SUMMARY John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. His baptism was a purification ceremony meant to ready the peoples hearts to receive their Savior. Jesus was baptized by John, not because He needed to repent, but in order to obey the new command God laid upon His people through the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). Unlike Jesus, I am not without sin. So my baptism is one of repentance. Repentance is to be a daily activity (1 John 1:8-9). Thus, I am called again to turn from sin and seek the face of the Lord.  

*PRAYER* Renew me daily oh Lord in your constant goodness, let me acknowledge my sins and make a turn towards you, each day of my life in Jesus name, Amen.

*O DIVINE WORD WHO TOOK FLESH FOR HUMAN SAKE, REDEEM US IN OUR SITUATIONS*

© Rev. Fr. Utazi Prince Marie Benignus