Baptism of the Lord

The Baptism of the Lord 

Readings: Isaiah 42:1‑4,6‑7  Acts 10:34‑38  

Luke 3:15‑16, 21‑22

            The feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks a transition between the Christmas season during which we celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation and the beginning of Ordinary Time when we re-experience the saving mission of Jesus by commemorating his public actions and teachings as recorded in the gospels.  During this year's C cycle we will read Luke's Gospel, and so today we are presented with Luke's account of Jesus' baptism.  Today's feast reveals Jesus as God's prayerful Son and servant who has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to bring the "good news of peace" to the children of Israel and the nations of the world.  With confidence in God’s blessings, we pray in the words of the responsorial psalm: "The Lord will bless his people" (Ps 29).

            In the first reading from the Book of Isaiah, Israel's vocation as the Lord's humble "servant" is to bring forth justice to the nations.  In contrast to the grandiose political expectations of many in Israel, the prophet, who is living in exile in Babylon, sees Israel fulfilling its task through a gentle teaching mission. “He (my servant) 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.”  No longer can the exiles consider their destiny in narrow nationalistic terms.  They must now understand themselves "as a covenant of the people,/ a light for the nations."  We Christians believe Jesus, the crucified Messiah, is the ultimate fulfillment of this gentle servant figure who will be "a light for the nations."

            In the second reading from Acts, Peter's sermon at the baptism of Cornelius also alludes to the universalism implicit in Jesus' ministry which began with John's baptism when he was anointed with "the Holy Spirit and power."  Cornelius is the  first Gentile convert to Christianity in Acts; he was a devout  Roman centurion who was already praying to the God of the Jews and giving alms to them (Acts 10:1‑8).  As is usual in Acts, the initiative for this important new step in the spreading of the gospel comes from God.  In a vision an angel of God tells Cornelius: "Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God.  Now send some men to Joppa and summon one Simon who is called Peter."  In the meantime Peter also learns in a vision that God has abolished the Jewish kosher  laws by declaring that all foods are clean, so that he goes with  Cornelius' emissaries when they invite him (Acts 10:17‑29).   When Peter hears of Cornelius' vision, he affirms all that God has done in these events.  “I begin to see how true it is that God shows no partiality.  Rather, the man of any nation who fears God and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” 

            Luke's account of Jesus' baptism highlights his superiority to John.  When the people, "full of anticipation," ask John whether he might be the Messiah, he answers by prophesying about Jesus' ministry which will bring the Holy Spirit and the final Messianic age. "I am baptizing you in water, but there is one to come who is mightier than I.  I am not fit to loosen his sandal strap.  He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire." Because John belongs to the time of preparation, Luke does not even mention John's presence at the baptism.  In fact in the verses preceding the baptism we are told of John’s arrest and imprisonment by Herod Antipas. In the actual account of the baptism, Luke stresses the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus and the heavenly voice which speaks to him as the unique Son and Servant of God in language reminiscent of the Isaiah reading.  “You are my beloved Son./  On you my favor rests.”  A special feature of Luke's account is that Jesus is "at prayer" when the Holy Spirit descends upon him.  Jesus' saving ministry begins with prayer and the descent of the Holy Spirit, and it will end in prayer on the cross with the words, “Father into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46; Ps 31:6).  Jesus' frequent prayer at crucial points throughout Luke's gospel (see 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 9:28‑29; 11:1‑2; 22:32; 22:39‑48; 23:34,46) will serve as a model for the  disciples who will also be at prayer when they receive the Holy Spirit for their mission on Pentecost (see Acts 1:14; 2:1‑13).