baptized with christ
january 12, 2024 | feast of the baptism of the lord, Year C
Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Titus 2:11-17; 3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16. 21-22.
Dear brothers and sisters, welcome to the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We end today, the Christmas season. This baptism inaugurates Jesus’s public ministry. The Baptism of our Lord serves to remind us of our own Baptisms. While Baptism serves to liberate us from original sin, all evil and bondage from any ancestry, the Baptism of Jesus was to serve as an example. Jesus did not need Baptism for he did not need any rebirth or purification.
Jesus baptism was for our salvation
In his Book, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’, Pope Benedict XVI helps us to solve the problem of Jesus' baptism. For him, sinless Jesus did not have any sins of his own to take him down into the river Jordan. It could only have been our sins that he took down into the river Jordan. The baptism of Jesus was symbolizing his death on the cross for our sins. By descending in the water of Jordan, he took our sins on his shoulders as he went down into the Jordan and as he died on the cross. Just as he came up from the water, he equally rose from the earth. There is a clear link between the baptism of Jesus and Jesus’ cross. Henceforth, St. Paul in his letter to the Romans tells us:
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” (Rom. 6:3-4)
Jesus’ baptism reminds us our baptism
Jesus' baptism in Jordan expressed his desire to die on the cross for our salvation, so does our own baptism express the intention of our whole self to die to our sin and to live like Jesus. Every day, we are called to live out of our baptism with that new life of Jesus. That is why we are baptized in the same Holy Trinity that was made manifest at Christ’s baptism as enjoined by Christ. We are Trinitarian people.
In today’s gospel, St. Luke reminds us of the voice of the Father acknowledging Jesus as his beloved Son whom we must listen to. Our baptism invites us to faithfulness and obedience to the will of God throughout our entire life. Like Jesus, our life must be filled with the Holy Spirit who will guide our lives into newness of life.
My brothers and sisters, through his baptism, Christ’s identity and mission was revealed as the beloved son of the Father. For us, our baptism makes us Jesus’ disciples, renews and connects us to God as his children, and gives us the strength to achieve our mission and ministries in the Church and in the world. We need to lead a prayerful life as an active action of building the Kingdom of God on Earth.
Happy feast of your baptism!
Living the Gospel. Effects of Baptism
Today’s reading helps us to reflect on the sacrament of Baptism. Let’s meditate on the effects of baptism. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, baptism has many effects, including:
“Purification from sins: Baptism forgives all sins, including original sin and personal sins, and all punishment for sin.
New birth in the Holy Spirit: Baptism makes the baptized a new child of God.
Membership in the Church: Baptism makes the baptized a member of the Body of Christ and the Church.
Reception of sacraments: Baptism makes the baptized capable of receiving other sacraments.
Indelible spiritual mark: Baptism imprints a permanent spiritual mark, or character, on the baptized that cannot be erased.
Sanctifying grace: Baptism infuses sanctifying grace, which makes the baptized holy and an heir to everlasting life.
Theological virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit: Baptism infuses the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love, as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Share in the priesthood of Christ: Baptism gives the baptized a share in the priesthood of Christ.
Basis for communion with all Christians: Baptism provides the basis for communion with all Christians”. (CCC #1227)
Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC