The Baptism of the Lord (B); 1-10-2021

Is 42: 1-4,6-7.  Ps 29.  Acts 10:34-38.  Mk 1:7-11

Deacon Jim McFadden

            Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism, which also concludes the Christmas season.  Mark’s gospel describes what happens on the bank of the Jordan River.  At the time that John the Baptist baptizes Jesus, we hear that the heavens opened:  “When he came out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened” (Mk 1:10).  This calls to mind the prophet Isaiah, anticipating the coming of the Messiah, who offered this dramatic supplication: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you” (Is 63:19c).

 This invocation coupled with Mark’s statement brings to an end that “the heavens were closed.”  Closed from what?  The closure symbolizes the separation between God and humankind as a consequence of sin.  When our primordial parents Adam and Eve sought happiness outside of their relationship with God, their originating sin  distanced us from God.  The intimate bond between God and humanity, between heaven and earth was broken, which lay the groundwork for our misery and failures in our lives. 

The opening of the heavens indicated that a new transcendent reality has emerged: God is going to shower his grace upon us so that the land will bear its fruit.  When the heavens open, “Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss./Truth will spring from the earth, justice will look down from heaven”

 (Ps 85:11-12). At Christmas we celebrated the birthday of Jesus, which commemorates when the Word became flesh (Jn 1:14).  This is how the earth became the dwelling place of God among men and women.  And, it’s now possible for each one of us to meet Jesus at an inter-personal, I-Thou relationship, experiencing his tender love and infinite mercy.  Though the Risen Lord is no longer with us physically, we are able to encounter Him truly present in the Sacraments, especially in the Eucharist in which we have the privilege and blessings to receive His Body and Blood, and thereby His soul and divinity.  It does not get any more intimate than that!  And, as members of the living organism of the Church, which is His mystical Body, we can recognize Him in the faces of our brothers and sisters, especially in the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the displaced (cf. Mt 25:31-46).  They are living flesh of the suffering Christ and the visible image of the invisible God (cf. Col 1:15). 

            With the Baptism of Jesus more is revealed.  Not only are the heavens opened, but God speaks to us making his voice resound:  “This is my beloved Son; with whom I am well pleased” (Mk 1:11).  What Jesus has learned is that He is the beloved one:  He is loved by His Father.  When God hands over his love to Jesus, He is handing over Himself: total self-giving.  Have you wondered why Jesus saw blessed people, especially among the broken and poor?  Inside of Himself, He knew He was beloved.  And, what He experienced in Himself, He saw in others.  Brothers and sisters, that’s the beginning of the spiritual journey.  Your story really begins when you realize that you are the beloved daughter (son) of the Father and that you see others as your brothers and sisters. 

            Then the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon Him, which allows our salvation.  You see, the Holy Spirit, the great forgotten One of the Blessed Trinity, is the loving that is shared between the Father and the Son.   It is through the Holy Spirit that we enter into Trinitarian love.  We often pray in Jesus’ name.  The Church prays the Our Father at Lauds and Vespers.   But, how often do we pray to the Holy Spirit?  He is the Forgotten One, but He is indispensable; indeed, without His gifts we received at our Confirmation we cannot live the life of discipleship.  So, we need to ask for his help, his strength, his inspiration.  The Holy Spirit is the One Who has fully animated the life and mystery of Jesus.  And, it is the same Spirit Who will do the same for us who call themselves friends and followers of Christ Jesus.  At our Baptism we were initiated into the Church, the Body of Christ; as such we were anointed as priest, prophet, and king which means we have received the Mission of Christ to bring the Good News to the world.  It is only through the Holy Spirit that we can find the courage to act as apostles which is necessary to overcome the easy self-referential accommodations of the world.  Christians and parish communities that are tone deaf to the voice of the Holy Spirit, who urges us to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth, also become “mutes” who do not authentically speak the Word of God and do not evangelize but cave in upon themselves in sterile “religious devotion.” 

            So, let us remember to pray often to the Holy Spirit, just as often as we pray to Jesus and the One Who sent Him.  Let us pray that He helps us, gives us strength, gives us inspiration and enable us to go forward  as we enthusiastically live the Good News.  Amen.