The Baptism of the Lord
All four Gospels record that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. But in the quarter century between Mark and John, the accounts take very different directions. Mark’s version is only 3 verses. Matthew raises it to 6. Luke’s and John’s renditions grow to 22 & 23 verses, respectively. Something’s going on here.
In Mark, the Baptist promptly immerses Jesus in the Jordan. No questions asked. No resistance given. The two are meeting for the first time. A decade later Matthew
describes John as hesitant. “I should be baptized by you.” Even later, Luke suggests a kinship between them and contrasts their births with Infancy Narratives—to establish that Jesus is greater than John. The Fourth Gospel eliminates Jesus’ baptism all together and the Baptist readily recognizes him, not as his cousin, but as the “Lamb of God.”
This event caused consternation because many argued that John must be the greater, since he did the baptizing. The narrative changed as the Gospels were written.
A Vatican website reflection on today’s scripture reads:
By gradually removing John from the scene, Matthew and Luke elevate Jesus. But there is little doubt that John baptized him; if he hadn’t, Matthew and Luke wouldn’t have rewritten Mark’s story. Jesus presents himself for baptism in today’s Gospel, not because he is a sinner, but to fulfill the word of God proclaimed by the prophets. He must be baptized to reveal that he is the Christ (“anointed one”) - the Spirit-endowed Servant.
Something extraordinary happened to Jesus that day. He is transfused with the Spirit of God. He has a mission. His baptism is one of the most profound incidents to have ever taken place anytime or anywhere. The world was about to change forever.
We who are baptized in Christ (“anointed one”) have been gifted with that same Spirit, made beloved sons and daughters. Indeed, we are Christ-ians - literally “anointed ones.”
In the ‘70s, as a seminarian at St. Gregory College Seminary in Mt. Washington, everyday we passed a beautifully carved life sized crucifix. There had been a fire decades prior in historic Fenwick Hall and Christ was missing his arms and hands. Above it were the words “You are my arms and hands.”
As “anointed ones,” let us pray that the Holy Spirit that we received at our baptism graces us in this new year to be just that—his arms and hands.
-Timothy J. Cronin
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITY:
THE PASSION NARRATIVES OF THE GOSPELS:
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE CHRIST OF HOLY WEEK (Tim Cronin facilitator)
How can Holy Week 2023 be richer and more impactful?
We hear the story of the suffering and death of Jesus twice: Palm Sunday & Good Friday.
Because the stories are so familiar, do we sometimes miss what’s there? How can we encounter the most powerful part of the Bible more fully?
Our parish offers a Group Bible Study on The Passion Narratives of the Gospels TUESDAYS Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28 @ 7-8:30PM in the chapel.
Pre Registration is encouraged so we know how many books to order: 937-252-9919
Our resource will be world renown scholar Father Raymond Brown’s
A CRUCIFIED CHRIST IN HOLY WEEK: ESSAYS ON THE PASSION NARRATIVES
(Available on Amazon @ $14.95)
Questions? Tim Cronin This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.