The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Today's Mass Readings

(Note: I was in India all of last week and returned really ill. This homily is only a short reflection on the Baptism of Jesus) - Fr. Satish Joseph

Most of you know that I made a trip home just last week. When I first told my parents about my trip, my only intention was to spend time with them. But then, they had begun to make plans to visit even the pets of my relatives. I even said to my self that if my parents were not so dear to me there would be some not so nice conversations. Because my parents mean so much to me I would to do anything for them. But when I got home and I saw how proud they were of me, and when I realized why they wanted to show me off to the entire nation, I gave in. The real question I said to myself was not what my parents mean to me. The real question was what I mean to my parents. What does it mean for me to be a son? That was the real question. Today we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. The gospel reading ends with the words, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mk1:11). So the question that I want to ask is not what the Father meant for the Son. Rather the question I want to ask is this: What does it mean for Jesus to be the Son? Really, what does it mean for Jesus to be the Son of the Father? The first reading is a very touching reading. For the Father

We often hear the question posed to us – What does God mean for us? The question I am posing today is what do I mean to God? What does it mean for me to be a son? What does it mean for you to be a daughter? Let me offer three practical implications:

1) To be a son/daughter is to allow the Father to love me. The voice at the Baptism of Jesus proclaimed, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mk 1:11). Ever since the baptism of Jesus every person baptized is the son or the daughter of God. We who are baptized, are not just sons and daughters, but rather, we are “beloved” sons and daughters. Let this question sink into you this week – What does it mean for mean to be loved by God?

2) To be a son/daughter is to allow the Father to express himself in me. Today’s second reading from the Acts of the apostles ends with these words: “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). Jesus went about doing good because he was the hands, the feet, the eyes, the ears, the heart and face of the Father. What does it mean for me to allow God to express himself through me?

3) To be a son/daughter is to allow the Father to grasp my hand. The first reading from Isaiah is an intensely touching reading. I like the phrase, “I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people…” (Is 42:6). Jesus allowed the Father to hold him, to grasp his hand, to take control of his life. That may have led Jesus to the cross but it also led to the resurrection and eternal life for human kind. What does it mean for me to allow the Father to hold me, to grasp my hand, to take control of my life?

As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us be aware that the same Father, the same Spirit and the same Jesus are here with us today. The same voice is heard again with regard to us, “This is my beloved Son/daughter. As we come to receive Jesus in communion, let us allow ourselves to be loved by God. Amen.

- Fr. Satish Joseph