Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, 10 January 2021
Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord signals the close of the Christmas season and the return to Ordinary time. In a little over a month Ash Wednesday will begin the season of Lent on the 17th of February. It is appropriate that this feast is celebrated on the cusp of the transition from Christmas to Ordinary time because the baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of his public ministry, the time when Jesus announces that “the kingdom of God is at hand.”
During Advent we heard in Mark’ gospel the verses leading up to today’s passage: “John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside…were being baptized by [John] in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.” John declares his unworthiness to untie the sandals of the one mightier than he. “I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit”
“It happened in those days… Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens torn open and the Spirit like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens; “you are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.”
We see John baptizing with water for repentance. Jesus who needs no repentance is baptized by John. Jesus is affirmed by the Spirit. Jesus then begins his public ministry. Both passages from Isaiah and Acts connect the baptism of Jesus with his public ministry. The words of Isaiah are echoed in the gospel: “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with who I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit; He shall bring forth justice to the nations…open the eyes of the blind, bring out prisoners from confinement and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” In Acts we hear “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Why did John baptize? “He sought to prepare hearts for the coming of God’s kingdom.” Why did Jesus submit to John’s Baptism? His willingness to be baptized represents his total allegiance to the kingdom. In the water, Jesus himself becomes the very sign of the dawning of the kingdom.” What do the Spirit and the voice signify? Seeing the Spirit and hearing the voice is for Jesus an affirmation, the acknowledgement of God’s love. All of this leads to the ministry Jesus is about to begin. “This moment in Jesus’ life reassures him that everything he does from this point forward in making God’s kingdom a reality, he does not do alone. This is what makes John’s prophetic words about Jesus baptizing with the spirit so true; the mission of Jesus is not simply to convert hearts but to establish a relationship in which his followers believe themselves to be beloved by God.”(Willbricht)
What does this mean for us? While we acknowledge that in Baptism our sins are forgiven, more importantly and more stunningly we become sisters and brothers of Christ sharing in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and also sharing in the ministry of Christ. Baptism is an affirmation of our child-parent relationship with the Father and an affirmation of our sister-brother relationship with Christ.
Baptism is also our commission. Baptism is the beginning of our journey with Christ to make the Kingdom of God real. When Jesus says “The kingdom of God is at hand,” he does not mean it is waiting in the wings to come on stage, he means it is here and now, and we as Jesus’ sisters and brothers need to be about our Father’s business.
Today we must consider the implications of baptism and faith in Christ. The readings and the larger Gospel message affirm that receiving the Spirit at baptism is only the beginning, and important work must follow. All are welcomed and invited to be baptized, and that baptism requires believers to promote justice and truth. The Spirit is directly connected to both of those ideals, and receiving the Spirit is a call to action. On this feast of the baptism of [the Lord], let us be inspired to actively participate in the quest for justice and truth.” (Waters)
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