Baptism of the Lord

With this Sunday’s celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Church brings the Christmas Season to a close and transitions to a period of Ordinary Time.  Baptism marks a new beginning – a rebirth.  For Jesus, this marks the beginning of his ministry and serves as an excellent transition from the infancy narratives of the Christmas Season to the story of his life and ministry which we hear during Ordinary Time.  So this week we begin the journey of Jesus’ ministry anew with his baptism:

The Word for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 55:1-11
Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 or Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
Acts 10:34-38 or 1 John 5:1-9
Mark 1:7-11

Our first reading from the prophet Isaiah tells us about “the servant of the Lord.”  This comes from one of the “servant songs” common in 2nd Isaiah.  In this passage we are told this servant will be chosen by God to save Israel – a prophecy that predicts the coming glory for Israel.  Not only will God raise it up in gleaming splendor but through his servant make it a beacon, a shining example, to all the other nations.  No small task given that Israel at this time is still living in exile in Babylon.  What we have in this passage is an example of how this new servant will be – not a voice crying out in the wilderness like John the Baptist, but one who does “not cry out, nor shout,” one who cares for those in need by telling us he will not break the bruised reed or quench the dimming candle.  Through his kindness that justice will be established.  Note how the Isaiah’s language takes on a particularly personal tone in the second paragraph, not unlike the language used by the prophet Hosea as God forms us each as an individual creation.  The tone of this reading is reflected in our Psalm as we sing, “The Lord will bless his people with peace,” which brings to mind the name of Christ as the “prince of peace.”

Our second reading, in honor of the feast, comes not from one of the Epistles but from the Acts of the Apostles.  In it we hear a brief story of Jesus and the good he did in God’s name.  What makes this story amazing is not what Peter is talking about but where and to whom.  Peter is telling this story in the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion from Italy, someone who is not native to the region.  Further, this house is in the city of Caesarea, a city built by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar Augustus, located on the coast some 60 miles northwest of Jerusalem.  Not only has Peter found a convert in a foreigner, but in was Cornelius who sought out Peter based on a vision he had of an angel of the Lord.  It is a story that not only speaks powerfully to the prophecy from Isaiah but also serves as a suitable bridge to our Gospel.

Our gospel, remembering that we are in Cycle B of the Sunday lectionary, is Mark’s version of the Baptism story.  Typical of Mark, the story is very short and to the point, but it does include all the important details:  John’s proclamation, John baptizing Jesus in the Jordon, the Holy Spirit coming as a Dove, and God’s vocal affirmation for Jesus.  This is a pivotal moment in our faith tradition, but given all our celebration of the Nativity I think that sometimes this significance gets lost.  This is the moment when Jesus takes on his role as savior and accepts his mission.  Yes, this was the mission to which he was born, but remember, even though he was completely divine, he was also completely human, with all the doubts, fears, and free will that we all have.  Through his baptism he chose to take on this mission, and like all of us God affirms us with his love and support.

Final Thoughts:
Christian tradition holds Baptism as a moment of re-birth, dying to our old selves and being reborn as our new selves – becoming a new creation.  Yet our tradition of infant baptism tends to lose the significance of that moment, given that this new baby is already a new creation, a blob of infinite potential.  When viewed from an adult perspective, however, the significance of this moment cannot be under rated.  What we were is no more.  All past sins become expiated as we take on the mantle and mission of Christ.  We are expected to leave behind our old ways – ways that are selfish – and take on selflessness and a life of service to others above oneself.  

For many people today this is a dramatic shift in priorities.  After all, we live in a society that places great value on self-worth and self-determination, of becoming a “self-made-man” in a society that preaches that our needs and desires should come first.  This ideology reminds me of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew about not being able to serve two masters (God or mammon). It all boils down to two basic ethical constructs – selfishness v. selflessness.  Jesus made his choice when he asked to be baptized.  As Christians we are called to make that same choice.  Therefore this feast reminds us of our own baptismal promises, of our pledge to follow Christ and renew our commitment to serving one another.