Is 40: 1 –5, 9 –11; Ti 2: 11 –14; 3:4 –7; Lk 3:15 –16, 21 –22.
Baptism of our Lord
January 12, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. The public ministry of Jesus begins with His baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.
Today’s Gospel provides the context for John’s preaching. It tells us that “people were filled with expectation whether John might be the Christ” (Lk 3:15). The Messiah is the anointed one, anticipated for the restoration of Israel and the triumphant display of God’s power and dominion. This expectation echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah, who called out: “Console my people, console them” (Is 40:1). The people of God, burdened by the pain of exile in Babylon, were filled with hope for a deliverer.
When the people inquired if John was the Messiah, he humbly replied, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16). With these words, John acknowledges his own humility and affirms the greatness of Jesus. While John employs water as a means of purification, Jesus brings the powerful and transformative elements of the Holy Spirit and fire. Fire refines, and the Holy Spirit purifies. This signifies that through baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we become new creations. We are all called to this renewal. The Gospel emphasizes this universal invitation by stating, “All the people have been baptized” (Lk 3:21a)—a powerful reminder that God's call to salvation is for everyone.
Moreover, as the Gospel reveals, when “Jesus had been baptized, and was also praying” (Lk 3:21b), a voice came from heaven, proclaiming, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22b). One may wonder why Jesus chose to be baptized. Did He require purification? The answer is a resounding no! By entering the waters of the Jordan, Jesus demonstrated His solidarity with John’s proclamation of God’s salvific plan and our humanity. In accepting baptism, Jesus identified with us, sinners, inviting us to identify with Him, who is holy.
Baptism symbolizes death and rebirth, and the full significance of Jesus’ baptism must be seen in light of the Cross. His baptism foreshadows His acceptance of death for humanity's sins. The voice declaring, “This is my beloved Son,” over the baptismal waters anticipates the Resurrection. In fact, Jesus Himself refers to His impending death using the term baptism (Mk 10:38; Lk 12:50).
Luke also highlights that “Jesus was praying” as he was baptized. Prayer plays a pivotal role in Jesus’ life and ministry. It opens the heavens, brings forth the Holy Spirit, and allows God to communicate with us. In Jesus Christ, prayer is our connection to God, and through Him, we become God’s sons and daughters. Engaging in prayer is our vocation as those baptized in Christ. This is why baptism serves as a sacrament that enables us to partake in Jesus’ life. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that “The grace of God has appeared for all human beings” (Tit 2:11). He emphasizes that “the grace of God educates us on how to reject impiety and to be eager to do what is good” (Tit 2:14). “The grace of God is Jesus Christ Himself” (Ep 1:3). Jesus embodies God's love and kindness toward humanity, and we fully encounter God’s grace through the bath of rebirth—baptism. Through baptism, we become new creations.
To those considering baptism, I want to reiterate: today, once again, Jesus knocks at the door of your heart. Are you ready to open yourself to the grace of the Lord? Do not hesitate to welcome Jesus into your heart.
By Fr. Mukadi Ilunga, SJ