Reading I
Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Gospel
The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”
Reflection
Today’s feast, the Baptism of Our Lord, can be a puzzling one. Why did Jesus, who was untouched by sin, get baptized? Further, the event comes across both as insignificant and momentous. Luke doesn’t even describe it in real time, saying only “and Jesus also had been baptized.” And yet, what looks like a small and unnecessary ritual prompts the Heavens to open up, and God the Father to speak aloud: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
To understand the importance of this moment, we must remember that Jesus did not undergo Baptism because He needed to repent or be cleansed from sin. Rather, He received it as an act of total humility and obedience. Rather than situating Himself in a position of sinless glory above His fellow men, He lined up right along with the crowds of sinners that John was Baptizing. In this way, Jesus willingly took upon Himself the humiliation of sinful humanity. No wonder the moment seems so small.
At the same time, Christ’s Baptism inaugurates and anticipates Hisultimate act of humble self-sacrifice: His Crucifixion and Resurrection. In Baptism, a person plunges into water, drowning out their life of sinfulness, and emerges, born anew. We can see how Christ’s “Baptism of Blood” on the Cross is the event which all Baptisms imitate: Jesus truly died and rose again to bring about new life. When Jesus accepts John’s Baptism of repentance, He accepts His mission to save mankind through the ultimate Baptism of death and resurrection. Thus, the Father announces His delight in the Son who would obey Him unto death.
Jesus’ Baptism transformed all Baptisms into an efficacious Sacrament which brings Christians into His saving sacrifice. Catechism 537 says: “The Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with Him,” so we too can become “beloved sons” and daughters.
This feast invites us to live according to our Baptismal identities and to offer ourselves to the Father in humble obedience. I urge you to offer prayers of thanksgiving for Christ’s sacrifice and, like Jesus, to accept the mission bestowed on you to make your life into a sacrifice of love.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
