feasting on the word
"If you meditate on the Scriptures it will appear to you in its brilliant splendor." ―St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Baptism of the Lord (C Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 | Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 | Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38 | Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 At the Baptism of our Lord, the Spirit declared Jesus as the Messiah: the Priest who would offer His life as a sacrifice for others, the Prophet who would manifest God's presence through word and deed, and the King who would establish His Kingdom from the Cross. As we transition from the Christmas season into Ordinary Time, may this feast inspire hope and provide encouragement as we journey forward, guided by the readings from Isaiah, the Acts of the Apostles, and the Gospel of Luke. Combining parents' names to create unique names for their children has become quite the trend these days. At a baptismal ceremony, Fr. Harold asks the parents, “What name do you give your son?” Proudly, they reply, “Celpon, Father.” Taken aback, Fr. Harold asks, “Are you serious? Why name him Celpon?” The father grins and explains, “My wife’s name is Celia, and mine is Ponciano.” Fr. Harold, trying to keep a straight face, mutters, “Well, that’s... creative.” Moving on to the next child, Fr. Harold asks, “And who are the parents of this little girl?” The couple beams and says, “We’re Charmaine and Roger, Father.” Relieved, Fr. Harold smiles and exclaims, “Such lovely names! What name have you chosen for your daughter?” With equal pride, they announce, “Charger, Father!” Fr. Harold sighs, “Of course it is…”
What names or titles are you known by? Do you strive to embody their meaning in your life? Much of the Book of Isaiah addresses the Babylonian Exile, a time of profound hardship for the Jewish captives. Our First Reading offers words of encouragement to these exiles, introducing the figure of the Lord's "Suffering Servant," who is entrusted with the mission to "bring forth justice" to the world. This Servant is marked by a gentle respect for others, carrying out his mission with humility and quiet perseverance. Rather than enforcing conformity, he brings about transformation from within. Similarly, just as there are various ways by which we might be named or identified, Jesus is also recognized by many titles. In this particular passage, He is referred to as the "Suffering Servant," one who is sent to open the eyes of the blind, bring light to those in darkness, and serve with quiet love and selfless dedication. John, a long-time alcoholic, decided to visit the church, hoping to kick his drinking habit once and for all. After a lengthy chat, Fr. Paul leaned in and asked, “John, have you been baptized?” John shook his head, “No, Father.” With a determined look, Fr. Paul declared, “Well, that’s it then! Let’s baptize you and make you a new man!” Without wasting time, Fr. Paul dunked John into the water three times, proclaiming, “You’re now a new creature! No more alcohol in your life! From this moment on, you’re not John anymore—you’re Joseph, a clean and healthy man!” Joseph found the whole thing a bit peculiar but enjoyed the experience nonetheless. Feeling inspired, he went home, opened the fridge, grabbed a beer, and dipped it into a glass of water. Holding it up triumphantly, he said, “You’re now a new creature! You’re not beer anymore—you’re orange juice!” Through Baptism, we are transformed into a new person, a new creation. Our Second Reading takes place in the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion who, despite being a Gentile, is described as "a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God continually" (Acts 10:2). Cornelius deeply loved God and sought to live in a way that pleased Him. In this narrative, God directs Peter to visit Cornelius, share the message of Jesus Christ, and baptize him and his household, despite their Gentile identity. This episode highlights that anyone who reveres God and lives uprightly is acceptable to Him. Through the reception of the Spirit, they are renewed and become a new creation. Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who rose from humble beginnings to become a notorious ruler, once came across a soldier dozing off at his post during an inspection. He stopped and asked, "Soldier, what’s your name?" The groggy soldier answered, "Napoleon." Surprised, the emperor asked again, "What did you say your name was?" The soldier repeated, "Napoleon." Fixing him with a sharp gaze, the emperor declared, "Well, my name is Napoleon too. So, here’s my advice—either change your name or start living up to it. Walk worthy of your calling." In our Gospel, Jesus came from Nazareth to the Jordan River, seeking to be baptized by John. As He emerged from the water, the heavens opened, and the Spirit descended upon Him. Luke recounts that a voice from heaven declared with divine clarity, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased.” Is God proud of Jesus? Absolutely. In the waters of baptism, Jesus hears in a profound way that He is the Son of God. He embraces His calling, and it is from this moment that He begins His earthly ministry, proclaiming the kingdom of God. Why was God proud of His Son? Because Jesus consistently fulfilled His Father’s will. As He Himself declared, “I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me” (John 6:38). That level of obedience and devotion would make any father proud, wouldn’t it? And don’t we all long to hear those same words from God: “You are my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased”? The feast of the Baptism of the Lord invites us to reflect not only on Jesus' baptism but also on our own. This celebration reminds us that baptism is not merely about encountering Jesus—it’s about what we do after we have found Him. Our baptismal identity calls us to remember who we are and to whom we belong. To please God, we must first accept His love and live in a manner worthy of our baptismal calling. For those of us who have received this life-transforming sacrament, the question is: What are we doing with it? Are we living in a way that would cause God to look down from heaven and say, “My child, I am proud of you”? Let this feast inspire us to renew our commitment to live as God’s beloved children, walking faithfully in His love and fulfilling our mission. <enrique,ofs>
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About JeffJeff Jacinto, PhD, DHum |