JESUS WAS BAPTISED FOR OUR SAKE

 “SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”

Daily Spiritual Reflections

9th January 2022

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SUNDAY, FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Is 40:1-5,9-11;     Ps 104: 1-4, 24-25, 27-30;    Ti 2:11-14;3:4-7;    Lk 3:15-16,21-22

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JESUS WAS BAPTISED FOR OUR SAKE

Christian Baptism cleanses us from original sin and all personal sins. Baptism binds us to God. St Peter wrote: "baptism…now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1Pet 3: 21). 'Baptism is a true entry into the holiness of God, through incorporation into Christ and the indwelling of his Spirit.' 'When the catechumens are asked: “Do you wish to receive baptism?" means at the same time to ask them: "Do you wish to become holy?"' (Novo Millennio Ineunte 31) 

Today's feast ushers in the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical year. Baptism is a prominent event in the life of Jesus and is recorded in all the four gospels. On the day of Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Trinity was present. This event revealed the identity and mission of Jesus. The opening of the heavens made known God’s intervention in the history of humankind. The baptism in the Jordan marks the gradual growth in the knowledge of Jesus' identity and of the task, in human history, entrusted to him by the Father. It launches Jesus beyond the borders of his land, Galilee, into a universal mission and into a dimension where he shares the human condition, until then unimaginable for him and for his prophets: it is God himself who "descends" to be by the side of human beings, even though aware of their weaknesses, to allow them to "climb" to the Father and give them access to communion with Him. 

In today’s Gospel, John is baptising people at the river Jordan. The purpose of his baptism was the repentance of sins. Jesus too was baptized by John. But, being the anointed one, the begotten Son of God, he was sinless. Why then did he go to John to be baptised? We can understand this in three ways: 

• It expressed his humility and total allegiance to the will of his heavenly father. His sole desire was to accomplish the divine will. In embracing human nature, he bowed his head together with the whole of humanity to the almighty God in humility. Though he was sinless, he received baptism to confirm his obedience to his Father and oneness with humankind. 

• Being among ordinary people at the river Jordan, Jesus showed his oneness with them. He came to save humanity from sin; on accepting the baptism of John, he established the bond between them. He did not leave humanity alone to fight against the evil one; he took upon himself their fight. It was a way of showing that he would from now on be their warrior and their saviour. 

• Being immersed in the water, Jesus made holy the waters of baptism. His sinless flesh purified the waters and sanctified them, washing away all sin. Thus, we are cleansed from our sins and attain the state of grace at our baptism. The waters that he purified by his baptism, open the doors of heaven for us. 

How can we live our baptism today? 

• With his baptism, Jesus began his public ministry. Our baptism reminds us that we have died to sin and are reborn into a new life in Christ. We are no longer called as the children of the world, but children of God. Our daily mission, therefore, is to manifest in our life-choices this rebirth in Christ; i.e., his way of thinking, feeling and acting. 

• When we bless ourselves with the sign of the cross, at the founts placed at the entrance of the church, we must do it consciously and devoutly, reminding ourselves of our union with Christ and our baptismal promises. At the same time, we also appeal to the Lord to wash us from our sins and heal us from our infirmities. 

• It is not enough to acknowledge privately our faith in Christ, but to publicly profess it in our behaviour, attitude, conviction and opinions. Our immersion in the waters of baptism makes it known to the world that we are now the children of God and the followers of Christ.

Response: Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, how great you are!

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