Soon after epiphany we celebrate the baptism of the Lord. The
Liturgy of epiphany revealed the mystery of God’s plan—that in Jesus all
peoples, symbolized by the Magi, have been made “coheirs” to the blessings
promised to Israel. This week, we’re shown how we claim our inheritance.
On this feast day, we can’t blame if someone doubts: why did Jesus, the sinless Son of God, receive the "baptism of repentance" meant for sinners?
Jesus received John’s baptism to identify himself with his
people, who, as a result of John's preaching, for the first time in Jewish
history became aware of their sins and of their need for repentance. The Jews
had the traditional belief that only the Gentiles who embraced Jewish religion
needed the baptism of repentance, for, as God's chosen people, the Jewish race
was holy.
Jesus doesn’t submit to John’s baptism as a sinner in need
of purification. He humbles Himself to pass through Jordan’s waters in order to
lead a new “exodus”—opening up the promised land of heaven so that all peoples
can hear the words pronounced over Jesus today, words once reserved only for
Israel and its king: that each of us is a beloved son or daughter of God. So
Jesus’ baptism shows us what would happen to all of us in our baptism.
Two things stand out: Heaven was
opened and then a voice is heard.
The “heaven was opened” may be understood in both a natural
and supernatural way: a break in the clouds but also a new opening of access to
the realm of God. Through baptism we also enter into a new realm.
Secondly the voice: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am
well pleased.” this statement of the Father echoes several important passages
of Scripture:
(1) “Abraham, take your beloved son Isaac, whom you
love”. (Gen 22:2). This is the introduction to the account of the sacrifice of
Isaac, in which Isaac is thrice called the “beloved son”. This allusion shows
Jesus as a new Isaac, the beloved Son who will sacrifice himself on the holy
mountain out of love for God and for his Father.
(2)
“You are my son, today I have begotten you.” (Ps
2:7) This is the royal coronation hymn that the new king was to recite as he
ascended the throne. It is an affirmation of the Davidic covenant, by which
each heir to the throne had the privilege of a filial (sonship) relationship
with God who promised to king David: “I will be his father, and he shall be my
son” (2 Sam 7:14). This echo implies that Jesus is the Son of David, the heir
to the throne of Israel. In fact, the baptism comprises the washing and
anointing ceremony by which each son of David marked the beginning of his reign.
That is why, if you note, shortly after the baptism, Jesus begins to preach, “The
kingdom of God has arrived.” Indeed, it has because he has begun his royal
reign.
(3) “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in
whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him” (Isaiah 42:1). The
passages show that Jesus is the mysterious “servant” of Isaiah, who is marked
with God’s Spirit, comes to preach good news to the poor (Isa 61:1–2) and will
suffer and die to redeem many (Isa 52:13–53:12).
Jesus is the fulfilment of the whole Old Testament expectation:
the new Isaac, the new David and the Isaianic suffering Servant. That means
through baptism we too become the beloved sons and daughters of God and we also
become priest, king and prophet.
Who's a priest? A priest
is someone who makes prayers and sacrifices on behalf of the people to God. He
is someone who prays for the people to God on their behalf and is a mediator between
humanity and divinity. So as priests we must be a person of prayer especially intercessory
prayer for the sake of others. When someone says, “could you please pray for me”,
they're in a sense awakening our priesthood, our identity as a priest. So as parents
do you pray for your kids on a regular basis? Do you intercede for them in a
priestly way? Children, do you pray for your parents? Husbands do you pray for
your wives? Wives do you pray for your husbands? That's a priestly obligation
that we all have.
And as a priest do
you offer sacrifice on regular basis? Now you may be doubting. I will explain
you. There is a pivotal prayer during every Holy Mass. Priests say right before
the prayer over the gifts: “pray brethren that my sacrifice and yours may be
acceptable to God the father almighty”. He's not saying that you pray that my
sacrifice that I’m uniquely offering, No, but that my sacrifice and yours. In
other words, all the people at mass are joining themselves to the sacrifice of
the priest who's joined to the great sacrifice of Christ himself to the father.
So, the point is, every baptised who gathered there in the Mass is a priest. That's
why just before this we take up the collection. Because we are sacrificing
something for the sake of others. We're expressing a priestly act in the
donation that we give. So don't stay away from the source and summit of the Christian
life which is Holy Eucharist. That's when our priesthood is most fully
expressed.
The second is
kingship. Through baptism we are kings. We are called to guard ourselves and
those who are subject to us from the enemies, injustice, poverty etc. Poverty
not only of money but also of love and truth. Many times, the dogs in our house
eat well, indeed, too much than the poor children who do not have their parents.
The same applies to injustice. We are happy to keep a black cat in our homes and caress it, and a black man instead? What is our attitude towards them? Where is
the human dignity? And then who are our enemies? Pride, greed, lust, envy,
gluttony, wrath, and sloth. We need to conquer all of them. What I mean is
getting a mastery over oneself. If there's all kinds of conflicting desires and
impulses and tendencies in us, then we're not going to move effectively toward
the kingdom of God. But if we get control of our life in such a way that we can
order our mind, our will, our passions, our private life and our public life
all in the direction of God, then we've got a kingly sovereignty a kingly authority
over ourselves and that by the way will enable us to become a much more
efficacious king in regard to those around us. It does not mean that we need to
conquer all at a time. No, we cannot, we will not win at all. We need to take
one enemy at a time. So that we can eliminate them completely from our lives.
Remember the first king of Israel, Saul who was removed from his throne because
he did not eliminate completely his enemies. So, to eliminate them completely
is so important.
Thirdly we are
prophets. Prophet is somebody who speaks the words of God. That means you speak
not your thoughts but God’s words. There are so many prophets in the bible are
summoned by God to speak on his behalf. Jeremiah says, “Lord don't choose me,
for I’m too young”, but the Lord says, “don't say you're too young, a prophet
to the nations I’ve appointed you”. Isaiah says, “I’m a man of unclean lips” and
the Lord purifies his lips and then Isaiah says send me to speak. We too may be
too young and unclean but we're prophet too. We've been anointed as prophets if
we're baptized to speak the words of God. So, let us ask ourselves do we read
the word of God regularly? Do we speak publicly about our faith? Do we let
people know that we're a catholic and that we're proud of it? That's part of prophecy.
So Dear ones, let
us renew our baptism this day and ask God’s grace to fulfil our mission as priests,
kings and prophets.
May God bless you!
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