Baptism of our
Lord Jesus Christ
Theme: Jesus
Empowered as Father’s Missionary!
1st
Reading Isaiah 42:1-4 6-7 character of a faithful servant!
2nd
Reading Acts 10:34-38 Jesus the messenger of God!
Gospelmk 1:7-11 commissioning of Jesus by the Spirit!
Baptism is the
sacrament of regeneration through the water in the word!
Through Baptism
one is freed of sin and is made to be reborn as son/daughter of God. We are
incorporated into the body of Christ the church and shares of his mission.
Today when the
whole church celebrates the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ we are reminded to
renew our own baptismal promises and be able to live our call as Christians.
So it is right to
reflect on our own character of baptism.
Jesus never
required this he went through this rite in Jordan.
Often our
character as Christians is never seen in public.
We live our lives
very quietly and silently, may be we will never be proclaimed as saints in the
universal church.
But surely our
lives will leave a mark on the history of our family.
Today when we
celebrate the feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus, it is surely very
interesting to see what those three readings which we have just now heard in
the voice of the readers mean to us?
First one tells us
how the chosen one of the Lord is endowed with the power of the spirit of God!
This empowerment is to bring Justice, and peace! Haven’t we been waiting for
centuries for these two realities to take effect in us and around us in the
societies we live????
Have we achieved
it? How many political statements are made, UNO is established? Have the wars
become less, conflicts been resolved?
Jesus has surely
wrought the works of Justice and Peace. Because he was the Son of Justice,
Prince of Peace!!!
By doing him to
death he has achieved the purpose for which he came into this world. Now it is
up to us to live this and appropriate it into our own lives. We might have to
fight for justice, even lay down our lives, it may be painful. How shall we do
this by living our Christian call?
Dynamically!
Actively!!!!
In the 2nd
reading we hear Peter encouraging the early Christians to accept the sufferings
for the grater glory of God! An invitation not easily understood, unless and
until we become empowered by God’s spirit which permits us to discern the will
of God!!!
In the Gospel we
find Jesus going through the rudiments of baptismal rite! Though John the
Baptist recognizes Jesus and almost withdraws the action but Jesus requests him
to do it as it is a requirement by God to allow him to continue his mission!!!
What a humble act???? He voluntarily chose to step into the river Jordan.
We see so many our
Hindu countrymen stepping into Ganga river, to
have their sins washed away!!
Often this may be
just a superstitious action!
But the belief which
goes with this may help one to be rid of the evil in the person!!!!
For us an
immersion in water never takes place, we were baptized as little children, we
might never have known this but now as grown up people we have an opportunity
in the baptism of Jesus to see what was done to us long a go may become alive
and active. Our baptism has to become more than our countrymen stepping into
the waters of Ganga river!!!!
We can renew our
baptismal promises, which might never have been actively renewed!! Shall we
pause for a moment and do so very consciously?????? Silently, personally??????
Your may use your
own formulae!!!!!
One lesson we can
learn from today’s liturgy, Jesus came into this world as a suffering servant
and for us his disciples this is the lot. Suffering service is our gift given
to us? Shall we accept this willingly????
We are attending
this Eucharist as parents, as children, as religious, as people called to
serve, in our vocation the life we lead is not all bed of roses, there are many
difficulties in our life!!!! How do we live our call?????
We as Christians
can make this created world a little better place to live.
How?
By becoming
conscious of the nature that is being destroyed, by using the goods of this
world sparingly, by becoming accountable in every thing we use, light, water,
the other natural resources of this world for the grater glory of God!!!!
We are all invited
to be servants of God who has created this universe!!! We are to use it for
making the Goodness of God visible!!!!
Let us live this
reality actively!!!!
Wishing all the
believing Christians a happy Baptism day!!!
Yours ever in the
divine word,
Fr. Juze Vaz svd
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