BAPTISM OF JESUS
Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. With this Feast we conclude the season of Christmas and begin the Ordinary time.
BAPTISM: THE GREAT EPIPHANY
Even though we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany last Sunday, Epiphany in its fullest sense took place at the baptism of Jesus. This was the only incident recorded in the Bible where all three Persons in the Trinity appeared together. Jesus was formally introduced to the world on that day too. Through the three extraordinary events that had taken place at his baptism (the Heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a Dove and God the Father gave a public witness saying: This is my beloved Son’.) God revealed to the world the identity and mission of Jesus once and for all. For a deeper understanding of the implications of Jesus’ Baptism, it is important to know the meaning of these three extraordinary happenings.
The Heavens were opened. Yahweh was the King of Israel until they arrived in the Promised Land. However after the Exodus Event the leaders of Israel came to the conclusion that only through the presence of a human King could enemies be prevented from taking over their nation. They approached the Prophet Samuel with this proposal. Yahweh however, dismissed their idea and said: “I am your King. You don’t need a human king.” People remained stubborn and insistent. Finally Yahweh yielded to their request and anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Under the reign of Saul and then David, Israel became a united Monarchy and a powerful nation. However, the golden era did not last long. Power struggles among the children of David and their successors led to the division of the country into two nations: Israel and Judah. The kings of both nations proved to be disastrous by their immoral and reckless behavior. The two nations became weaker and weaker. Babylonians and Sumerians took advantage of the situation and defeated them in the battle. The people of Israel and Judah became slaves once again. Frustrated by the manipulative and exploitative behavior of their Kings, the people of Israel started to pray: “Lord, take away all these human kings… Lord, open the heavens, come down and be our king.” On the day of Jesus’ Baptism, God answered their prayers and opened the heavens for them. Jesus is our heavenly King.
The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a Dove. What is the significance of the dove in this whole event? The Dove was the national symbol of Israel. By using the Dove as His vehicle, the Holy Spirit was symbolically anointing Jesus as the New Israel. The Dove also symbolizes New Life (Rf: Noah and Flood). Jesus is the new Israel and in him we have life.
Supreme Witness: Finally, God the Father Himself gave testimony to Jesus. “This is my beloved Son.” At the transfiguration of Jesus, God went a step further and declared: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” There is no other place in the Bible where God declares someone as his beloved son or daughter. Thus Baptism became the great Epiphany of Jesus.
BAPTISM: THE GREAT COMMISSIONING
On the day of His Baptism, God the Father anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and entrusted him with a mission. Jesus started His mission by expressing his solidarity with the people who were looking for a change. People were not happy in the way the world was functioning. They wanted a change. They realized that the world was not going to change, unless they changed. They came to John for baptism to start a new beginning. By coming to John, Jesus joined the people for their desire for change.
Jesus not only joined the movement but gave the movement a new direction. Jesus offered the real change: the Kingdom of God. Jesus offered a new way: Conquer your enemy with love. Stop striking back.
THE CHALLENGES OF MY BAPTISM: CALL TO NEW LIFE
When a person receives the sacrament of Baptism three things happen.
A NEW IMAGE
Baptism restores our lost image. God opens heaven for us and makes us His beloved sons/daughters. We become children of God. The white baptismal garment we receive at baptism symbolizes this reality.
A NEW IDENTITY
Baptism incorporates us into the Body of Christ (Church). We become a corporate identity. Communion with one another becomes the mode of our existence. The Eucharistic Liturgy celebrates this communion. So a person who is not in communion with his/her brothers and sisters are not eligible for receiving Holy Communion.
A NEW MISSION
Through baptism we participate in the kingly, royal and priestly mission of Jesus. As Jesus began his mission with the reception of baptism, we too join his movement with the reception of our own baptism. The lighted candle we receive at the time of our baptism symbolizes this new mission.
In Jesus we are a new creation. We are a chosen race, we are a holy priesthood. We are here to make a difference. Let us do it by renewing our baptismal commitment today.
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Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. With this Feast we conclude the season of Christmas and begin the Ordinary time.
BAPTISM: THE GREAT EPIPHANY
Even though we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany last Sunday, Epiphany in its fullest sense took place at the baptism of Jesus. This was the only incident recorded in the Bible where all three Persons in the Trinity appeared together. Jesus was formally introduced to the world on that day too. Through the three extraordinary events that had taken place at his baptism (the Heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a Dove and God the Father gave a public witness saying: This is my beloved Son’.) God revealed to the world the identity and mission of Jesus once and for all. For a deeper understanding of the implications of Jesus’ Baptism, it is important to know the meaning of these three extraordinary happenings.
The Heavens were opened. Yahweh was the King of Israel until they arrived in the Promised Land. However after the Exodus Event the leaders of Israel came to the conclusion that only through the presence of a human King could enemies be prevented from taking over their nation. They approached the Prophet Samuel with this proposal. Yahweh however, dismissed their idea and said: “I am your King. You don’t need a human king.” People remained stubborn and insistent. Finally Yahweh yielded to their request and anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Under the reign of Saul and then David, Israel became a united Monarchy and a powerful nation. However, the golden era did not last long. Power struggles among the children of David and their successors led to the division of the country into two nations: Israel and Judah. The kings of both nations proved to be disastrous by their immoral and reckless behavior. The two nations became weaker and weaker. Babylonians and Sumerians took advantage of the situation and defeated them in the battle. The people of Israel and Judah became slaves once again. Frustrated by the manipulative and exploitative behavior of their Kings, the people of Israel started to pray: “Lord, take away all these human kings… Lord, open the heavens, come down and be our king.” On the day of Jesus’ Baptism, God answered their prayers and opened the heavens for them. Jesus is our heavenly King.
The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a Dove. What is the significance of the dove in this whole event? The Dove was the national symbol of Israel. By using the Dove as His vehicle, the Holy Spirit was symbolically anointing Jesus as the New Israel. The Dove also symbolizes New Life (Rf: Noah and Flood). Jesus is the new Israel and in him we have life.
Supreme Witness: Finally, God the Father Himself gave testimony to Jesus. “This is my beloved Son.” At the transfiguration of Jesus, God went a step further and declared: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” There is no other place in the Bible where God declares someone as his beloved son or daughter. Thus Baptism became the great Epiphany of Jesus.
BAPTISM: THE GREAT COMMISSIONING
On the day of His Baptism, God the Father anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and entrusted him with a mission. Jesus started His mission by expressing his solidarity with the people who were looking for a change. People were not happy in the way the world was functioning. They wanted a change. They realized that the world was not going to change, unless they changed. They came to John for baptism to start a new beginning. By coming to John, Jesus joined the people for their desire for change.
Jesus not only joined the movement but gave the movement a new direction. Jesus offered the real change: the Kingdom of God. Jesus offered a new way: Conquer your enemy with love. Stop striking back.
THE CHALLENGES OF MY BAPTISM: CALL TO NEW LIFE
When a person receives the sacrament of Baptism three things happen.
A NEW IMAGE
Baptism restores our lost image. God opens heaven for us and makes us His beloved sons/daughters. We become children of God. The white baptismal garment we receive at baptism symbolizes this reality.
A NEW IDENTITY
Baptism incorporates us into the Body of Christ (Church). We become a corporate identity. Communion with one another becomes the mode of our existence. The Eucharistic Liturgy celebrates this communion. So a person who is not in communion with his/her brothers and sisters are not eligible for receiving Holy Communion.
A NEW MISSION
Through baptism we participate in the kingly, royal and priestly mission of Jesus. As Jesus began his mission with the reception of baptism, we too join his movement with the reception of our own baptism. The lighted candle we receive at the time of our baptism symbolizes this new mission.
In Jesus we are a new creation. We are a chosen race, we are a holy priesthood. We are here to make a difference. Let us do it by renewing our baptismal commitment today.
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