BAPTISM OF THE LORD

09 – 14 JANUARY 2023: HOLY MASS REFLECTIONS 09 JANUARY 2023: BAPTISM OF THE LORD: ISAIAH 42. 1-4, 6-7; ACTS 10. 34-38; MATTHEW 3. 13-17 Thrust: Chosen and committed! Indicative: The feast of the Baptism of the Lord indicates on one hand his commitment to the mission of our salvation and on the other hand our own commitment to live our baptismal consecration 1. Today Jesus is baptised. It is not a mere traditional ritual. It is symbolic. It symbolizes three essential aspects: the purification of sins; Insertion into the chosen fold; and initiation into the mission of repentance and conversion. 2. “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”. Firstly, this indicates and confirms Jesus’ identity. Secondly, it indicates the kind of relationship with his Father. He is the beloved Son of the Father. There is an intimate and pleasant relationship between them. 3. All the above-mentioned 3 aspects are clear in Jesus’ baptism. Though sinless, he allows himself to be baptized. Thereby he symbolises our own purification. In our place, he humbles himself, to be counted one among us, the sinful lot. Thus, his baptism shows the utmost need for our purification, the cleansing from sin. 4. His baptism shows that he inserts himself in the chosen fold of God’s people. His baptism incorporates him into our human family. He makes himself a willing sharer in our human reality, especially our sin-infection and the struggle for liberation from it. 5. His baptism is the starting point, the launching pad for his mission. His getting into the water for baptism is getting into the waters of the mission. His being baptized is being sent on the mission of cleansing by repentance and conversion. The voice from heaven affirming Jesus’ belonging to the Father is conferring His Spirit for the God-sent mission. 6. All that is spoken in the first reading and the second very much apply to him. Jesus Christ is the chosen one, well-pleasing to God. God is with him. He is anointed with the Spirit and power. His mission is a mission of justice. There is no partiality but fairness and equity. It is a mission of being a Covenant of the Lord, Light, and Restoration of sight to the blind and freedom to the prisoners and captives. 7. Baptism of the Lord also reminds us of our own vocation and mission. it makes us aware of what we are ad what we are to do. We are chosen. He formed us. He grasped us by the hand. He upholds us. He puts His Spirit upon us. Such is our closeness. 8. But that does not stop or end there. All this is directed to a mission. We are set as a covenant. We are appointed as a light for the nations. We are sent to liberate the people from their different enslavements. Thus all this is to establish the reign of Justice and Liberation. Imperative: We need to live our baptism. It is not merely to recollect the ritual. It is to re-live our baptismal consecration, that is to repent, be converted and to transform many others (REFLECTION 2) The Baptism of the Lord outlines four aspects: A. Indicates the radical mission of Jesus B. Such a mission is rooted in his communion with the Father C. Initiates his mission D. Reminds our own baptismal consecration and mission 1. The event of the baptism of Jesus indicates his “radical mission”, which is a mission of salvation or redemption. Originally, in the Biblical context, savior or redeemer connotes the idea of one who acts on behalf of or in favour of someone in slavery or in debt, or who is a victim of injustice. Accordingly, a redeemer renders justice by winning over the opponent, or relieving or liberating, by a ransom. In fact, the English term “redeem” evidently means to “make one deemed again”, or to restore the lost dignity. Thus, Jesus undertakes this mission of salvation or redemption from a situation of misery and bondage. 2. So, Jesus’ mission implies an unending story of God’s mercy and compassion toward humanity, which is a victim and slave of sin. It implies his condescending forgiveness of their sins. Further, it also indicates their liberation. This is done through his identification with them, his solidarity with them, and his expiation for them by self-immolation. 3. Now, how this mission is denoted by his baptism? Baptism was needed for those who are beset by sin, who need conversion, forgiveness, and purification. But, Jesus, the Son of God, did not need to be baptised, because he is sinless. But still, he allows himself to be baptised because he keeps himself in our place, he carries our burden of sin, he shares our human weakness, and he gets into solidarity with us in our human situation of fragility. 4. His baptism confirms his communion with the Father, in which his mission is rooted. The obvious signs and testimonies of this communion are: the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the attestation of the Father from heaven, “You are my Son, in whom I am well pleased”. 5. Jesus’ baptism initiates his “concrete mission”, which manifests itself in preaching and healing. This is a holistic mission, viz. of heart, word, and deed, namely, conversion of heart, announcing the good news in word, and healing in deed. His baptism marks the beginning of his ministry. So, on receiving baptism, Jesus immediately plunges into his relentless Kingdom-mission. 6. Jesus’ baptism reminds us of our own baptism and challenges us to renew and live our baptismal consecration. Our baptism is not merely a ritual or a tradition. It is an insertion into the very life of Jesus. It is incorporation into the mystical body of Christ, the community of the Church. It is an imitation and resemblance of Christ. It is consecration to God. This can imply four aspects: We belong to God; we are totally owned/possessed by God; we remain loyal to God and His kingdom; we bear witness to Jesus and his values, through sharing in his own mission 7. What does the baptism of Jesus mean for us today? Is it only a commemoration of a past event in the life of Jesus or the history of the church? Is it only an instance that marks the start of Jesus’ mission? How does this feast summon us to “be daily baptised”, i.e. be charged and animated by the Holy Spirit and fire? How do we constantly strive to grow into the person and life of our Master? How do we grow into spiritual and fraternal communion with the community of the Church? How are we loyal and committed partakers and perpetuators of the same mission of Jesus, which is liberation and integration?