WAS IT NECESSARY FOR JESUS CHRIST TO BE BAPTIZED?

Today’s celebration traditionally brings to an end the Christmas season and begins the ordinary time of the church’s liturgical year. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord affords us the opportunity to reflect on our baptism as well and what is expected of us.

Reflecting on the theme: was it necessary for Jesus Christ to be baptized? In the Gospel of today, Luke tells us, “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’” (Lk 3:21-22). He was not baptized because he needed cleansing from sin; he was sinless and John himself understood. He did it to completely identify Himself with sinful man. This same heart would lead to His identification with sinners on the cross.

In Matthew’s account John said, “I need to be baptized by you and not you coming to me” (Mt 3:14). John recognized that his baptism was only a prelude to what Jesus would bring. So, even when the people were mistaking him for the messiah, he told them, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire” (Luke 3:16). The Messiah will bring an immersion of the Holy Spirit that was greater than the immersion in water as a demonstration of repentance, which could not truly cleanse one from sin, nor could it impart the Holy Spirit in the way Jesus would after his mission was completed.

Baptism we know begins the Christian journey of every human being. For Christ, His baptism began His public ministry. In the sermon of St. Maximus of Turin, he said, “Christ entering the waters of baptism is not for Him to be washed or purified from sins, but purifying the water that will be used for our baptism. For when the Saviour is washed, then already for our baptism all water is cleansed and the fount purified, that the grace of the laver may be administered to the people that come after. Christ therefore takes the lead in baptism so that Christian peoples may follow after him with confidence.” His baptism communicates to us the efficacy/importance of our baptism, of which we receive grace upon grace that we as sinners are reconciled to God and become sons and daughters of God. Finally, His baptism gives a revelation of the Blessed Trinity.

With the theme of reconciliation, Isaiah in the first reading prophesied of a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord. In this reading, Isaiah speaks of John the Baptist’s call for repentance through baptism. Isaiah had made Jerusalem aware of her sin and speaks of the day when she would be comforted and her sins forgiven, just the same way as John did. John’s baptism was not to wash away sins but to show repentance for the forgiveness of sins by Christ. So, he prepared the way, and spoke of the Messiah whose baptism will forgive sins.

We recall the penny catechism book defining “Baptism as a sacrament, and a sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace, ordained by Jesus Christ by which grace is given to our souls.” It is on this note the letter of St. Paul to Titus in the second reading tells us, “For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world…” (Titus 2:11-13). It is a reminder of the renunciation of the devil we made on the day of our baptism. Importantly, our baptism should be tied to observable moral change, not just church membership numbers or religious status symbol. Our baptism should go beyond ritual to produce ethical reform. In our baptism, we identify with Christ’s passion, death and burial so that we can rise with Him in His resurrection.

Our baptism should enable us be like Christ who entered the same water as sinners and marginalized: He did not separate himself from their condition. By our baptism, we are called to fight against every form of inequality, which is a call for religious leaders that often distant themselves from the suffering masses. It is also a call for all leaders to learn submission from Christ, who submitted to John for baptism before beginning His public ministry. After His baptism, He confronted temptation, injustice and oppressive systems. By our baptism, we are commissioned to fight against corruption, despite the discomfort we may experience. We are commissioned to stand visibly with victims of insecurity, poverty and injustice, not just in prayers but actions. May the graces we have received in baptism bring us to eternal life through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ