Reflection for January 12, 2020

Baptism of the Lord (A)
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7   |   Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10   |   Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38   |   Matthew 3:13-17

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Today, in union with the whole Church, we celebrate the great event that is the Baptism of the Lord. At our Lord's Baptism, the Spirit has proclaimed Jesus as Messiah: as the PRIEST who would sacrifice his life for others, as the PROPHET who would reveal God's presence in word and

 in action, and as the KING who would proclaim his kingdom from a cross.

Combining parents' names is a much loved technique used by couples nowadays in naming their children. At a Baptismal ceremony, Fr. Harold asks, "What name do you give your son?" The parents of the child answer, "CELPON, Father." Surprised, Fr. Harold exclaims, "Are you sure? Why name your son, CELPON?" The parents of the child reply, "My wife's name is Celia and mine is Ponciano". Fr. Harold says, "That really sounds odd to me". Moving on to the next child to be baptized, he asks, "Who are the parents of this little girl?" The parents of the child answer, "Charmaine and Roger, Father." Smiling, Fr. Harold exclaims, "Beautiful names! What name do you give your daughter?" The parents of the child reply, CHARGER, Father!"

Much of the book of Isaiah deals with the Babylonian Exile, Our First Reading begins with a word of encouragement for the Jewish captives who are experiencing the Exile. The text portrays the Lord's "Suffering Servant" who is commissioned to "bring forth justice" to the world. He has gentle respect for others. He accomplishes his mission modestly and quietly, not whipping people into conformity but transforming them interiorly. Just as we have many ways in which we might be named and identified, Jesus also was identified in many different ways. In this particular text, Jesus is referred to as the "Suffering Servant" who is being sent to open the eyes of the blind and be a light for those in the darkness, quietly serving and loving.

John, an alcoholic, went to the church to find a solution for his drinking problems. Fr. Paul, after a long talk, asks, "Are you baptized?" John replies, "No". "Well then", says Fr. Paul, "I'll give you the holy baptism and you'll be a new man." The priest plunged John three times in the water and says, "You are now a new creature! There will be no more alcohol in your life! You're not John anymore, you'll be Joseph instead, a new clean and healthy man!" Joseph found the method odd but really liked the experience. So he went home, directly to the fridge, took a beer and dip it in the water saying, "You're now a new creature! You're not beer anymore, you're now orange juice!"

In Baptism, we are made a new person, a new creation. Our Second Reading takes place at the home of Cornelius, the Roman centurion. Though he was a Gentile, he was clearly "a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always." (Acts 10:2). Cornelius truly loved God and wanted to please him. God moves Peter to go to Cornelius to tell him about Jesus Christ and baptize him and his household, although they were Gentiles. This episode tells us that whoever fears God and acts uprightly is acceptable to God. He receives the Spirit and becomes a new person, a new creation.

At a Baptismal ceremony, Fr. Joel asks "What name do you give your triplets?" Joan replies, "Mercedes, Nissan and Ford, Father." Fr. Joel asks, "Why in the world would you name your children after cars?" Joan replies, "I love cars and everything about them, Father". Fr. Joel gives in, "Okay, let's do away with water. What do you want me to pour down on their heads, Premium or Unleaded?"

Why did Jesus bother to be baptized with water? Our Gospel tells us that Jesus did not descend into the waters because He needed to, but because we needed Him to. He is the sinless, divine Son of God, and the baptism that John the Baptist administered was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, he had no need to be baptized but he did so for three reasons: FIRSTLY, in order to reveal God to mankind. As the Incarnate Word of the Father was immersed in the waters, the voice of the Father is heard and the Holy Spirit comes down. Thus, the Trinity, the Communion of Divine persons in perfect unity, is revealed. SECONDLY, by his Baptism Jesus left for us the means by which we are spiritually reborn. By entering into the water of the Jordan River, Jesus sanctified it and made the water of baptism a place for the working of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Spirit hovered over the waters of during Creation (Genesis 1:2), the Spirit hovers over the waters where the Son is immersed by John. Thus, He sanctified the waters and, in so doing, as the Fathers of the Church teach, He instituted the Sacrament of Baptism by His actions. LASTLY, Jesus is completely identifying himself with Israel and its history. He was baptized in order to accept, inaugurate and identify his ministry with that of the suffering Servant of God in Isaiah (Isaiah 49:1-6; 50:4-11; 52:13–53:12; Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7), whose mission was to bear all kinds of sufferings on behalf of the people and to bring justice, judgment and salvation to everyone as God’s agent.

There's a story about Dado, a drunkard, who stumbled upon a baptismal service one Sunday afternoon in the parish. It was down south, back in the day, and this guy walked right down into the font and stood next to Fr. Hector, the parish priest. Fr. Hector turned and noticed the old drunk and said, "Mister, Are you ready to find Jesus?" Dado looked back and said, "Yes, Father. I sure am." Fr. Hector then dunked the fellow's head into the font and pulled him right back up. "Have you found Jesus?" the priest asked. "No, I haven't!" said the drunk. The priest then dunked him into the water for a bit longer, brought him up and said, "Now, brother, have you found Jesus?" "No, I haven't Father." Fr. Hector in disgust held the man under for at least 30 seconds this time, brought him out of the water and said in a harsh tone, "Friend, are you sure you haven't found Jesus yet?" Dado wiped his eyes gasping for breath and said to the priest, "No, Father. Are you sure this is where he fell in?"

This feast is a moment to reflect not only on the Lord's Baptism, but also our own. Baptism isn't about where you find Jesus; it's what you do once you've found him. Our baptism should remind us always of our identity and mission. It should remind us always of who we are and whose we are. In the Church, we all share the same intimate connection with Christ who calls us to share in his saving and sanctifying mission to be PRIEST, PROPHET, and KING. The question for those of us who have received this power-packed Sacrament is this: What are we doing with it? <enrique,ofs>