It always feels funny to go from Jesus as a little baby to about thirty years old in one liturgical week. Of course, if we feel that way, we are thinking of the liturgical year as some kind of reenactment, which it is not. The Baptism of the Lord draws an end to the Christmas season by proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One of God. Isaiah tells us that this Messiah comes as a servant bringing justice to the oppressed. We close Christmas with the reminder that as followers of Christ, we must serve others and work to bring about justice in our world.
John says earlier in the Gospel of Matthew, “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance.” Jesus does not get baptized because he was a sinner. Jesus is beginning his life’s work and showing his relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Even John says that a mightier one is coming who will “baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
The unity of the Trinity is shown by the appearance of the Spirit and the voice from heaven – Father, Son, and Spirit are one. The presence of Father and Spirit confirm that Jesus is the Messiah. The voice says, “This is my beloved Son,” a quote from Psalm 2:7, a psalm depicting the longed-for Messiah. “With whom I am well pleased” is from Isaiah 42:1, one of the Suffering Servant passages indicating the kind of life and suffering the Messiah would endure.
As a baby, this Messiah was revealed to shepherds and to astrologers from the East. Now, as Jesus begins his public ministry, he is acclaimed the Christ to all.
In the early Church, three feasts were linked together: Epiphany, the Baptism of Jesus, and the wedding feast of Cana. They were considered three manifestations of God becoming flesh and living among us.
Reflection: What does the Baptism of Jesus teach me about baptism? What does my own baptismal commitment mean to me? Who are the people who support me in my baptismal commitment?
