Baptism of the Lord (Cycle C)

Is 40:1-5, 9-11          Tit 2:11-14; 3:4-7          Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

Amidst many heresies advocated against the magisterium of the Catholic Church, Arianism is the most harmful heresy advocated by Arius in the fourth century. Arius falsely preached that Jesus was not the true Son of God. The emperor Theodosius promoted this false teaching. It was the same time emperor Theodosius made his sixteen-year-old son, Arcadius, an equal partner with himself on the throne. Many were invited to celebrate this event. Among them was a famous old bishop, Amphilocus, who spoke some words of congratulation and then prepared to leave. Looking at this gesture, the emperor became furious and shouted: Do you take no notice of my son? Don’t you know I have made him partner with myself?” Fearlessly, the bishop replied: Do you resent my apparent neglect of your son, because I do not give him equal honours with yourself? What must the eternal God think of you, who have permitted His co-equal and co-eternal Son to be degraded below His dignity as Son of God?

Many people today, even some so-called Christians, deny or question the divinity of Christ. This is what we believe and profess about Jesus Christ in the Nicene Creed: I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. From today’s gospel too, we heard that the voice from above which is from the heavenly Father affirmed: You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased (Lk 3:22). In a world where Jesus Christ is highlighted as just a historical man only, we Christians have the mandate of proclaiming His divinity to everyone. This is the invitation to us through today’s feast of the baptism of the Lord.

Today, we are beginning the ordinary time in the liturgical year which initiates us to reflect on the life and public ministry of Jesus. The baptism event sets the beginning scene of the public ministry of Jesus Christ. As per the gospel records, three incidents are marked as incidents of manifestation or revelation by the biblical scholars. They are:
1. The visit of the three kings, which we celebrated last Sunday,
2. The baptism of the Lord, which we celebrate today,
3. The miraculous transformation of water into wine at Cana, which was the first sign manifesting Christ glory.

The visit of the magi marks the proclamation that, as promised, a saviour has been given, not only to the Israelites but to all the people in order to be salvified. And the feast of the baptism of the Lord marks the beginning of its actualization by way of Jesus openly starting his public ministry by proclaiming the gospel. Calculating the time duration, it is clear that the baptism of Jesus Christ had taken place thirty years after the visit of the three kings. The event of baptism makes Jesus to move from one phase of his life to another phase of his life. Already we hear from the Lukan account that Jesus was well-versed in the scriptures in his young age and he had the capacity to begin the public ministry being the Son of God. We read that while his mother Mary was in search of him in the Jerusalem temple, Jesus said to her: Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? (Lk 2:49). This shows that Jesus was in one mindset of accomplishing the mission that was entrusted to him even in that young age.

Then, why these thirty long years in order to begin the public ministry? This simply tells us that a long hidden and unseen preparation is needed to be powerfully exposed. Though short, the three years of public ministry had a long-lasting effect, an effect that lasts even today because of those unexposed long years. It still creates a rippling impact in many human hearts. For this to happen, those thirty years were essential. Diamond stays inside the earth for many years to acquire its value as a diamond. The single drop of water stays inside the shell under the sea for longer period to be transformed into a pearl of high value. Jesus too was never hurrying, but patient enough to wait for the favourable time.

Jesus always took time to manifest himself. We hear that during the wedding at Cana, Jesus said to his mother: My hour has not yet come (Jn 2:4). Therefore, Jesus Christ was humble enough to stay confined and prepare himself to launch the God given project of salvation at a favourable time. In this sequence of patient awaiting, His total submission to God’s mission interwoven with obedience brought a great affirmation from the heavenly Father during his baptism: You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.

This affirmation from the heavenly father, invites us to reflect on the obedient sonship of Jesus Christ, which is a challenge to us. Jesus was an obedient Son to the heavenly Father, and therefore He was well pleased with him. A good child is one who is obedient to the parents. The parent too would be appreciative of that. But these days we face many disobedient activities. Because of our self-defendant nature and unreasonable questioning attitude, the virtue of obedience and its practice is slowly vanishing.

The scripture teaches us that obedience is better than sacrifice. 1Sam 15:22 says: Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice. And again, Jer 7:22-23 says: For in the day that I brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them, “Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you”.

The major mistake of the chosen race, Israelites was, they were interested in appeasing the anger of God through sacrifices but contrarily increasing His anger by failing to obey His commandments. It was an irony and paradox in their life. But still God was merciful to them. The pleasing obedience of Jesus Christ to the heavenly Father stands out as a sharp contrast in the background of the displeasing gestures of the Israelites. Therefore, the words of the heavenly Father during the baptism of the Lord is a reward endowed upon Jesus Christ for his unquestioning submission to God.

During each of our baptism, we all became the sons and daughter of the heavenly Father. And also, during the same sacrament, we all have accepted the mandate of obeying the commandments of the Lord. Today, let us be reminded of our baptismal commitment. The feast of the baptism of the Lord is a day of reminder for all of us. The question before us is: Are we all well-pleasing sons and daughters of the heavenly Father like Jesus Christ? Let this day, provide us the grace to rejuvenate ourselves to recall our baptismal commission and to set right our ways accordingly. May the Holy Spirit whom we have received during our baptism guide us in this path!