BAPTISM OF THE LORD, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD AND OUR OWN BAPTISM

(Matthew 3:13-17)

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, a feast that officially brings the Christmas season to an end. We thank God for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, a birth that reveals the Trinity to humanity. Thus, today, we hear the voice from above declaring: "This is my beloved Son with whom I am pleased." We are thankful for such a holy birth that gives us a new birth, a rebirth.

Through Nativity, God enters into our world of sin as the lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. In baptism, He opens a gate through which we enter heaven to take up the holiness of God. And as we witnessed in the Gospel, the heavens were opened. This is great. The heavens that were closed by the sins of Adam has been opened by the righteousness of the One who came to fulfil all righteousness and received Baptism that we all may receive it for salvation.

 

Is Christ's Baptism same with ours?

This is a point we should look into for those who say because Christ was baptised at so and so age then... We are baptised to be washed from sin. But Jesus had no sin in Him but was baptised. There was no urgency for baptism on his part. He needed it not for himself. But we need it for our salvation since we all are products of Adam and Eve. For those people too who said that Jesus was baptised at river Jordan and as such teach erroneously that baptism must be at a river, why did they not say it must be at river Jordan? Why did they not say John must be the one to baptise? Why do they leave the river when the Holy Spirit has not spoken? Jesus stepped into the waters of Baptism to purify it and make us partakers in the life of holiness that comes from Him.

The necessity of Baptism and its implications

Jesus came to be baptised but John wanted to refuse him on the ground that he should rather receive baptism from Jesus. But Jesus insisted and John consented.

Why is it that some people stop certain persons from receiving baptism? Especially the infants. Jesus would rather say let the children come to me for the kingdom of God is for people like them. If baptism is a gateway to heaven, why stop them? Does it follow that because Jesus did not get baptised as an infant then no infant should receive baptism? Oh no. He is the one who has come to teach us the importance and necessity of being baptised. His own parents may not have known this. Yet they did the one they knew which was presenting the babe in the temple. In our own time through the revelation of the Gospel, we have come to know the necessity of this rebirth. It should be part of our obligations for the infants. Just as we do not seek their consent to send them to school and to provide them healthcare, we should endeavour not to take their spiritual upkeep and life everlasting for granted since they too can die, that they may not do so in the state of original sin which Baptism targets together with any other sin.

Our Consenting

We as candidates in need of Baptism consented to the terms and conditions of Baptism. We also by extension declared our willingness as godparents and biological parents or guardians to train up the baptised in the faith. How are we going about these responsibilities? How do we even make choices of godparents for our children?  Handsomeness, beauty, wealthiness, connectedness, etc? How do you take care of the children you gave your consent to train up in the faith? Do you care if they go for the sacraments, the wears they put on, the friends they keep, the places they go, the dangers of their faith?

Our profession

Baptism is faith-based. It is a symbolic act. Hence in Baptism we see just water, we see no sin, we may not see the heavens open with our physical eye, we may not see the Holy Spirit descend like dove, we may not hear any voice speak. But is there the reality of the rebirth, of the descent of the Holy Spirit, of the presence of the Trinity? O yes! And this is why there must be Profession of Faith. Thus, we are asked some questions at our Baptism. This may be likened to what transpired between Jesus and John the Baptist today. In summary, we accepted the Faith and rejected the Devil. How long does this rejection and acceptance last? Are you still faithful to your baptismal promises? Is your white garment presented on the day of Baptism white still? Is your candle given on the day you were baptised still shining? All these should make us sit back and ask ourselves some questions concerning our Baptism.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We thank You Lord God Almighty for the feast of today. May we not forget that Baptism made us Your children and children of the Church.

May the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ bring us renewal of our baptismal graces and favours. May we all who are reborn, grow and be part of that kingdom prepared for us by keeping our promises that we may hear on the last day: this is my beloved son/daughter, with whom I am well pleased. This is our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Feast Day/Happy Christmas.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Baptism of the Lord, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: We are collaborators in Christ’s mission

Readings: Is 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17

Dear brothers and sisters, today the Church celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. This feast not only concludes the Christmas season but also marks the beginning of the Church’s Ordinary Time. The baptism of Jesus inaugurated His public ministry, after thirty years of hidden life in Galilee in preparation for the mission of redeeming humanity. On the day of His baptism, as we heard in today’s Gospel, the Father and the Holy Spirit publicly confirmed and revealed His mission before the crowd gathered around John.

Something remarkable happened at this baptism, according to Matthew’s Gospel. John initially refused to baptize Jesus, recognizing Him as the Christ and knowing that He was without sin. But Jesus insisted, saying it was necessary “to fulfil all righteousness.” Jesus chose to be baptized so that He might identify with us sinners, the very people He came to redeem. Through His baptism, Jesus made the sacrament of baptism a profound point of contact between Himself and those He saves. In baptism, He washes away our sins, makes us heirs of the Father’s kingdom, and commissions us as disciples who share in His mission. Our baptism not only grants us divine sonship; it also makes us collaborators in Christ’s mission, a mission we embrace through our baptismal promises.

Let us reflect briefly on this mission we have inherited. In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah outlines the mission of the Servant of God, who is Jesus Christ. He is the Chosen One who brings justice to the nations and perseveres in this mission. He is meek and humble, for “a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench.” He is a light to the nations, opening the eyes of the blind and freeing prisoners from darkness.

In the second reading, St. Peter describes how Jesus lived out this mission: He went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed by the devil, and showing no partiality.

Dear friends, as we enter Ordinary Time, the Church reminds us of Christ’s mission, outlined by Isaiah and Peter—a mission we have inherited through baptism. Our task this year is to carry this mission wherever we go and in whatever we do.

Looking at Christ’s mission, the Church reminds us that it is the vocation of all the baptized to fight for justice and ensure that no one suffers injustice under our watch. How faithful have we been to this call? Do we allow injustice to persist in our presence? Do we remain silent when we should defend what is right? Do we still speak for those who have no one to speak for them? Innocent people suffer whenever those called to defend justice choose silence. Our challenge this year is to speak for justice.

Again, Christ’s mission calls us to be meek and humble in our service, rejecting pride and arrogance, and working with integrity. It also calls us to be bearers of Christ’s light and teaching, beginning with our families and friends. Our mission this year includes helping the helpless and doing good to all we encounter. In the second reading, Peter said Jesus “went about doing good.” As collaborators in His mission, we too must leave traces of goodness in the lives of those we meet and in every place we go. St. Peter reminds us to serve without partiality or favouritism.

Dear friends, as we enter Ordinary Time, let us remain faithful to the mission we have embraced through baptism. Let us pray that our baptismal promises may be renewed and strengthened as we remember the baptism of Christ.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima