The Baptism of the Lord
We bring the Christmas season to an end with the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus. Especially since Jesus was baptized as an adult, the celebration of the baptism of Jesus within the Christmas season is at best, superficial. More intriguing is the very question of Jesus’ baptism. Why would the sinless and incarnate Son of God need baptism?
Perhaps the best way to understand the baptism of Jesus is to understand the unique role he played in salvation history. Because Jesus was God and human, his role was both human and divine. As the Son of God who come to redeem humanity, he was the face of God to humanity. On the other hand, born as a human and representative of humanity, he was the face of humanity to God. Thus, as Son of God, his baptism showcased everything humanity needed to witness – the waters of baptism being made holy, the descent of the Holy Spirit, God’s naming Jesus as “my beloved Son.” On the other hand, as Son of Man, he brought before God the human need for redemption, the need for new life, the need to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, and the human desire to be reconciled as God’s sons and daughters.
There are three things that are determined at Jesus’ baptism: his identity, his mission and his destiny.
Baptism or Jesus: Identity, Mission, Destiny
First, Jesus’ identity. At the baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon him and a voice is heard, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” That voice was for Jesus’ own sake and the sake of the people around him. For Jesus, it confirmed his personal relationship with God and for those around him it was confirmation of his identity as the Son of God.
Second, Jesus’ baptism confirms his mission. We see that mission laid out in the first reading. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “He shall bring forth justice to the nations…” (Is 42:1). He will be “a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness” (Is 42:6-7). During his life of earth this is exactly what Jesus would do. He would bring healing from illnesses, liberation from senseless religiosity, freedom from the shackles of power and oppression and salvation from sin and death. Because of Jesus you and I can have our sins forgiven and hope to spend eternity with God.
And third, the baptism gave Jesus his destiny. Because he is Son, not only did Jesus know where he came from but also where he was going. In the midst of all the opposition, suffering and death, it perhaps his destiny that kept him focused. Knowing his destiny, he is able to fulfill the task of our redemption.
Our Baptism: Identity, Mission, Destiny
What does the baptism of Jesus mean for us The answer is best given in today’s second reading. Paul says in his letter to Titus: “He [God] saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5-7).
In other words, our baptism is the point of contact with Jesus Christ. In other words, the benefits of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is ours by virtue of our baptism. When we are baptized, we are baptized into the life, death and resurrection of Christ. By our baptism Jesus identity becomes our identity; his mission becomes our mission; his destiny becomes our destiny. Yes, in Christ, we are now sons and daughters of God, we are now sent forth on a mission, and our destiny is eternity with God.
Living the Baptismal Identity, Mission, and Destiny
Baptism, however, is not magic. Not only did Jesus have to appropriate his identity, mission and destiny but he had to consciously live it out. With Jesus there was no compromising his identity, mission and destiny. Jesus lived it all the way to the cross.
If you and I ever wonder what spirituality is or what prayer life is all about, then the answer can be found in the baptism of Jesus and our baptism. Spirituality is about appropriating and personalizing the identity, mission, and destiny of Jesus. Spirituality is about consciously living out the identity, mission and destiny of Jesus in our life. Sometimes we will fail. But when we fall, we rise up to our baptismal identity, mission, and destiny.
The Eucharist is one way in which we can personalize and live out the identity, mission and destiny of Jesus. What we do once in a lifetime in our baptism, we celebrate each week in the Eucharist. Let our participation in this Eucharist, not only make us like Jesus but make us one with him.
- Fr. Satish Joseph