MONDAY JANUARY 8, 2024
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD YEAR B
Isaiah 55:1-11
1 John 5:1-9
Mark 1:7-11
RECALLING OUR BAPTISM :THE SACRAMENT OF REGENERATION
With the feast of the baptism of the Lord which we celebrate today, the Church closes the season of Christmas and we begin the ordinary time of the Church from tomorrow. The Baptism of the Lord launched Jesus into his public ministry. From this time onward, his hidden life in Nazareth and with the parents ends. He begin his mission and life of service to God and humanity and this will ultimately lead him to his crucifixion and resurrection.
The significance of baptising Jesus has been argued to be a symbolic way of sharing in our humanity and offering us his divinity. Jesus accepted baptism to share fully in our humanity. And to offer us his divinity. This divine life is what Isaiah the prophet writes about in the first reading. That Jesus is sent and called to reverse our situation, so that those who are thirsty can be refreshed. His mission is clear to the prophet Isaiah. He is sent to us as our saviour, when he speaks his words are final, and what he does is to take us back to God. We are therefore urged and advised to search, seek and follow him. For in him lies our fulfilment, happiness and salvation.
SO his baptism at Jordan is a theophany, a manifestation of his glory, an announcement of his nature and power to save. No wonder the evangalist, Mark records what happened at the baptism. God testifies saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This testimony is an announcement of the person of Jesus to the world as the messiah.
It is, as if God is saying, I sent him, this is a confirmation of whom I have sent and you must believe in him, for in him I have set my seal of salvation. This is exactly what this testimony signifies. It is the testimony of God himself.
Again the baptism of Jesus witnesses an unction of the Holy Spirit. The spirit descended upon Jesus, “And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove.” It is a mark of a new life, a new thing God is doing. It is the new spirit that will take hold of all the baptised. It is not by power but by the spirit. It signals the newness in Jesus’s ministry, the new birth of which all who believe will pass through and the glories and glamour that will greet all in Christ Jesus. So Jesus came with a new way of living, a new form of associating with God, a new seal upon all and a new relationship with God.
And lastly, Jesus by undergoing the baptism of the new life used water. Water was used in cleansing, in the baptism. It is through water that Jesus regenerated us taking away our former life, cleansing us from our original sins and actual sins. It is the power of cleansing. It is a new rebirth and it signifies that we are given birth anew. It is a mark of being reborn.
The second reading from the first letter of Saint John gives allusion to the symbolism of all these elements. The water, the spirit and then the blood. And he talks also about the testimony of the Father. But the greatest input is that by baptism we are made new.
Continuing, he tells us, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.” Our victory over the World is being born of God in baptism. That is why baptism is necessary for salvation. If Jesus underwent this ritual and sanctified the baptismal waters, exchanging his divinity with our humanity, it becomes imperative for us to receive this baptism and be reborn, regenerated and renewed by baptism. That is why the Church describes baptism, as “enlightenment” also. By baptism man is granted a new and higher form of knowledge greater than human knowledge.
In celebrating the baptism of the Lord, we recall for ourselves our need for this sacrament and our new life in Christ, with the responsibilities we have accepted and assumed.
In all, the catechism of The Church sees baptism thus: “Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: “Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.”
Through baptism our sins are cleansed, we are designated children of God and incorporated into his church. Then, we assume our responsibility by becoming sharers in the mission of Christ. Our lives become transformed, we live a life of purity, righteosness and sanctity. Our value system changes, we become more spiritual, our spirit agree with the new spirit in us and we turn to God. We begin to live the faith we profess. And as new people of God we see the world with the eye of Christ.
Heavenly Father, in baptism, you adopted us as your children and commissioned us into a new life of grace. As we recall our baptism, help us to take up the responsibilities of this new life you have called us. We pray, Renew our spirit and make us respond adequately to this new life. By this celebration today, transform our lives and bring us new power, renewed anointing and renewed grace through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
