Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ

Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ– Year C

January 13, 2013

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Responsorial Psalm: 29:1-2, 3-4, 9-10

Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14, 15; 3:4-7

Gospel reading: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

As we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us also remember our own baptism, for on that day we became children of God our Almighty Father, with the power of “the Holy Spirit and Holy Fire” (Luke. 3:16).  Baptism is one of the greatest gifts God has given to humankind, after the fall, for in Baptism, aside from we were cleanse, we were pronounced and became children of God, too, after our Lord Jesus Christ.  “. . . and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Luke 3:21-22).  As children of God, we become co-heirs of His Reign-Kingdom.  But, we have to understand also the meaning of Reign-Kingdom of God and its implications in our baptized life.  In the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans (14:17), he said: “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, it means righteousness, peace and joy brought by the Holy Spirit.”   This has happened and will happen through “the kindness and generous love of God . . . because of His mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).  

Do you still remember the day when you were baptized?  Do you recall how happy your parents were, together your god-parents, siblings, relatives and neighbors?  How the priest pronounced your name while pouring out the holy water in your head saying, “______(name), I claim you and baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  And everybody present responded, “Amen!”  “God richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:6-7).  Since on that day onward up until now, God who restored our lives (from the original sin) to original good (see Genesis 1:26-31), is still happy to see us growing and maturing in our lives – physically, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically, etc., “as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our Saviour Jesus Christ . . . eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).  As children of God the Father loves us, “exhort and correct us with all authority.  Let no one look down on you” (Titus 3:15).  He remains as our Father despite that sometimes we fell down and lost our direction in life, and forgot the Light (the baptismal candle symbolizing Jesus) that illumined our path, but rather followed our tendencies to hide in the forest and to cover our naked bodies with leaves (Genesis 3:7) or be covered by darkness and thick clouds (Isaiah 60:2).  God loved us and still loves us in all these escapades, and hide and seek game of our lives.  Still, God gives us “Comfort, give comfort to my people” (Isaiah 40:1), said the Lord.

Aside from becoming children of God, most of the times we also forgot, that we received also in our Baptism the three-fold responsibilities and duties in God; these are the implications of being children of God and co-heirs in His Reign-Kingdom.  In Baptism, God made us kings/queens, priests/priestesses, and prophets/prophetesses.    These are the responsibilities and duties God entrusted to us, aside from being children of God.  We received “from the hand of the Lord double . . .” (Isaiah 40:2).

As kings/queens, we received the responsibilities and duties of leading peoples, our lost brothers and sisters, back to One and Only God, our Father. “Prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!  4 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low. The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley, all the sins” (Isaiah 40:2-4).  We need to support those who are weak, poor, incapacitated, rejected and excluded by society.  As kings/queens, we have to decide what is good and avoid what is bad for other lost children of God, also they are our brothers and sisters.  “Like a shepherd, he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care” (Isaiah 40:11), in their physical and material needs.

As priests/priestesses, we, baptized Christians, have the responsibilities and duties to offer our daily sacrifices to God.  Our prayers, meditations and reflections, and devotions, our constant communications to God – not for ourselves but for others who forgot how to give praises and thanksgiving to God’s graces.   “For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age” (Titus 2:11-12).  Also, our constant reading of the bible, especially the gospel and applying them in our lives; then, our heart, mind, soul and body are tune-in in God’s word regularly, to understand God’s messages in our lives.  Then, our prayers for our loved one, our constant Eucharistic thanksgiving sacrifices – that every time we receive the Word and the Body and Blood of Christ, we offer to God the perfect sacrifice of His Son, for the remission and forgiveness of the sins of the world, “who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).  And other minute and grand sacrifices to God serve as our ministry and service for Him through our brothers and sisters in their spiritual needs.

And, as prophets/prophetesses, we have the responsibilities and duties to announce the good news to others, and to denounce bad news that destroy human core values, life, properties; and even destructions of ecology, environment through illegal loggings and quarrying, polluting of air, land, water, sea; disrespect of the integrity of creation, killing animals, plants, insects.  We, as baptized Christians have to denounce the anomalies, corruptions, embezzlements, stealing whoever he/she is, whatever position he/she holds; due to injustices to small or large group of people who deserve just services and human rights and basic needs.  But also, we have to announce whatever good done to us because sometimes or most of the times, we do not give thanks in return to people who sacrificed a lot for us and for the common good and for good cause.  When they are already dead, we give them recognition, instead of when they are still alive and can feel our heartfelt gratitude.  “Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings. Cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news!” (Isaiah 40:9).  Do not be afraid in announcing and denouncing the messages of God for His people; for this will bring good to the rest of the humanity.  “Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!  10 Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm” (Isaiah 40:9-10).  We who announced and denounced the messages of God, He will say to us later, “Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him” (Isaiah 40:10).  Above all, He will declare to us, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22).

Question(s) for Reflection:

1.  Do you appreciate your Baptism?

2.  How can you improve your baptized life?

3.  Do you work your responsibilities and duties as baptized Christians?