Baptism of the Lord

Today's scripture readings can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011115.cfm

Let me be the last to wish you a Merry Christmas - sort of! "Merry Last Day of the Liturgical Christmas Season" would be more accurate. It might appear that today's feast of the baptism of the Lord has little to do with Christmas or even little to do with Jesus, since strictly speaking he didn't need to be baptized at all. But if it appears that way, we should remember that appearances are often deceiving.

The baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River had great significance for Jesus himself, for the readers of Mark's Gospel, and has great significance for us today.

There was always a tension in the early believers of Christ as to whether or not Jesus was truly divine and as truly, completely human. Those who stressed his Divinity tended to water down his humanity. They knew Jesus, like us, got tired, hungry, and thirsty. But then they wondered if these things took away from his Divinity.

The answer would be, "No, they don't!" Those things are part of being human. Pope Saint John Paul II said in a general audience, "We repeat with the New Testament, with the creed, and with Vatican Council II that Jesus Christ has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin."

Hence his baptism was not a mechanical gesture that he realized was unnecessary but was willing to go through for the sake of appearances. His vision of the heavens torn open, the Spirit descending upon him like a dove, and his Father's voice had to have been a profound, deeply affirming experience.

Just after this baptism by John, Jesus goes into the desert for what we might call today a period of discernment. The more clearly he saw what he needed to do, the more the devil tried to tempt him away from his mission.

A question may arise in our minds, though, as to what the meaning of Jesus' baptism is for us today? After all, Jesus had nothing to repent of, nothing to be saved from. The answer itself can be found in the question itself. St. Paul helps us find that answer by saying, "For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Saint John Paul II realized the importance of the baptism of Jesus when he created the new mysteries of Light for the rosary. The first of these mysteries was the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.

In reflecting on the baptism of Jesus, we need to reflect on our own baptism and the gift of salvation that Christ gave us in His church and in his sacraments.

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever!