The Baptism of the Lord

Jan 08 2025

Scripture Study for

In the Isaian passage, God presents an unnamed servant: chosen, upheld, and pleasing to God, who has endowed the servant with the divine spirit. This enables him to serve God faithfully. The nature of his service is to bring forth justice, not just to Israel, as one might expect, but also to the nations, establishing justice “on the earth.” The Hebrew word for justice, mishpat, here refers to the restoration of God’s order. This “victory for justice” will not be accomplished through physical or military force. Instead the servant will bring the nations into covenantal relationship with God, opening up the path for God’s light and healing.

Cornelius is a Roman centurion who, as a “devout and God-fearing” man (Acts 10:2), has always treated the Jews with respect. Just before the present scene, Peter has received a vision in which he is commanded to eat “profane and unclean” food (10:9–16), which he interprets to mean that the mission of Christ is to be extended to the Gentiles. Thus, we hear him say today that God shows no partiality regarding nationality. While it is true that Jesus himself was sent to the Israelites, he is Lord of all, and thus the healing ministry begun in him is now extended beyond the bounds of ethnic Israel to encompass all those who believe in him and accept the offer of forgiveness of sins (10:43).

Matthew notes that Jesus went to John in the wilderness specifically to be baptized. In response to John’s question, Jesus does not suggest that he needs to receive John’s baptism for repentance (3:11), but “to fulfill all righteousness.” Righteousness here means doing God’s will, and it has been suggested that by being baptized, Jesus is placing himself in solidarity with the sinners he will save. In any case, the baptism is the occasion for a confirmation of his identity as God’s Son and the empowerment for his mission by the Holy Spirit, who will immediately lead him into the wilderness.

Dec 13 2024

Baptized for Mission

For many people, the end of the Christmas season carries a touch of sadness. Joy gives way to January. The liturgy, however, turns our attention to the work that lies at the heart of the mystery of the Incarnation. This feast of the Lord’s baptism is the final feast of the Christmas season, serving as a bridge from Christmastime to Ordinary Time. It presents Jesus as God’s “beloved Son.” His baptism placed Jesus on the road of his mission: to reveal the Father and to begin to bring about the kingdom of God in the world.

Our first reading helps us understand Jesus’ mission in light of an unknown Old Testament figure called the Servant. The book of the prophet Isaiah contains four poems called the Servant Songs: 42:1–7; 49:1–7; 50:4–11; 52:13–53:12. These songs speak of a servant on whom God has poured God’s spirit to be God’s agent in the world and bring justice to the nations. The Christian community hears these songs in light of Jesus. St. Paul likewise quoted an early hymn (Philippians 2:5–11), singing of Jesus as one who emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming obedient even unto death on a cross.

Our baptism brought us into the Body of Christ, setting us on the path of continuing Jesus’ mission. When the Holy Spirit came upon us, we became God’s beloved children in Christ and the mission of Christ, which is the mission of the church, became our mission.

Consider/Discuss

Do you connect your baptism with your work in the world?
What can you do, as part of the church, to bring God’s justice to the world?

Responding to the Word

Good Father, you have sent the Holy Spirit upon your people to serve the world by working to bring about the victory of justice. Give us the strength to persevere in this work and do not allow our zeal to break any bruised reed or quench any smoldering wick. Let us do our work in gentleness, kindness, and peace.

Dec 13 2024

Scripture Study for

The passage from Isaiah, known as one of the Servant Songs, describes a mysterious figure who acts as a pious agent of God’s compassionate care. The servant in this song has received the spirit of the Lord in order to bring forth justice to the nations. This justice is not harsh and exacting, but gentle and understanding, a source of consolation. The servant is also called by God to be a light to the nations. This passage describes the deliverance of the whole world, not simply the rescue of Israel from its particular bondage. The universalism here cannot be denied.

Cornelius was a recently converted Roman centurion. Normally, an observant Jew like Peter would not enter the home of a Gentile. It was a newly gained insight from God that changed Peter’s view of those who did not have Jewish ancestry. He realized that “God shows no partiality.” All are acceptable to God, Jew and Gentile alike. Peter, who knew the historical Jesus intimately and should have understood the implications of the message that he preached and the example that he gave, did not at first understand the radical nature of this gospel. But now he could testify that it is truly “good news of peace.”

Lest the people mistake him for the Christ, John contrasts his ministry with that of Jesus. John’s baptism with water was a ritual of repentance and cleansing; the Christ’s baptism of the Spirit and fire will transform and purge. John further admits that the Christ is far superior to him. He insists that he is not worthy to undo the sandals of that long-awaited one. Still Jesus submitted himself to John’s baptism. The voice from heaven and the descent of the Spirit confirm Jesus’ unique identity. This episode has been considered by many as the event of divine commissioning of Jesus. As God’s beloved Son he will baptize with the Spirit, thus bringing about the regeneration of the world.

Dec 09 2024

Wham! It’s the Holy Spirit!

He called from his basement bedroom, “Mom, something ran over my blanket in the night!” “It’s fine, go back to sleep,” I called back. He moved upstairs the next night and slept on the living room floor. Again he called, “Mom, something ran over me!”

There was something. It was making noises in the house. My daughter pointed. “Mom, there’s something above the curtain.” I looked up. Two little round eyes looked down at me. We could not catch it. But it was there.

For several days, we heard little noises. I heard a rattle in the cupboard. I opened the door. Suddenly, springing from among the cups, a flurry of motion buzzed my head and stopped on the stairway behind me. I turned around. I saw it. A flying squirrel stared at me from the fourth step.

In today’s story of the baptism of Jesus, we often overlook the third character in this story. We clearly see John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. But the Holy Spirit is here as well, breaking in, doing something new. Were there noises in Jesus’ life before his baptism by John? He had many hidden years that we know nothing about. Then suddenly—wham!—the “dove” of the Holy Spirit—whoosh— buzzes past his head! And his ministry begins.

Why does God work like that? The Holy Spirit is quiet, silent, maybe making a few little noises, then you turn the corner and whoosh! Wham! Something happens.

The author of Titus must have experienced it, too. In today’s reading, he writes of a bath of rebirth and renewal. Strikingly, he uses the Greek word “gushed out” for the way the Spirit moves. Gushed out. Whoosh! Rebirth and renewal happens.

This new year of 2022—is the Spirit rattling around in your house?

Consider/Discuss

Sometimes we turn a corner and whoosh! There is God. For some it comes early in life. For others, a major transformation comes in early midlife, as the baptism was for Jesus. Some may hear the noises of the Holy Spirit for many years and have no idea who that is until a very late age. It can be like turning a gradual corner. It can be abrupt, like a flying squirrel buzzing your head. How have you experienced God transforming you and your life? What has that been like?
We don’t know the “when.” We cannot catch the Spirit’s presence, but there it is, nevertheless. The baptism of Jesus set him on a new track. This week, take a little extra time to pray to the (sometimes overlooked) Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” Then be ready for whatever comes! To what path is the Lord calling you in this New Year?

Living and Praying with the Word

Holy Spirit, you are often so quiet. You make little noises in our lives. In Jesus’ day, the people were on tiptoe with expectation as they waited for the Messiah that John promised. Help us to be on tiptoe with expectation for you as well. We have no control over when you come. But ready us for your gush! Come, Holy Spirit, come, with your transforming power! We are watching for you.

Dec 09 2024

Scripture Study for

In Isaiah’s text from the late exilic or early post-exilic period, the prophet hears a voice from the heavenly council cry out to prepare a path in the desert that lies between Babylon and Judah. The terrain must be made completely flat, to allow the Lord to lead the redeemed exiles back to their ancestral land. The final portion of the reading contains two apparently contradictory metaphors for God. The divine warrior who is returning with his people, who are his “reward” and “recompense” (the Hebrew words often refer to spoils of war) is also the shepherd who carries his charges with tender care. The biblical witness to God envisions the Lord as simultaneously powerful and gentle.

The Letter to Titus urges readers to evaluate every aspect of their lives in light of the gospel, and to live accordingly. When the grace of God appears (in the person of Jesus Christ) in one’s life, that life must change. Whatever “godless and worldly desires” one holds must give way to temperance, justice, and devotion. This is called for, not by a harsh and demanding God, but by a God of kindness, generous love, and mercy. The changes one makes in light of the appearance of Christ in one’s life are part of the transformation that appearance effects as Christ justifies and makes heirs of all those who accept this gift.

We are given no reason in Luke why Jesus went to be baptized by John. Certainly, it is not a question of needing a baptism of repentance. One likely reason is that the baptism by John marks a succession, in which Jesus claims his role, which John has announced and prepared. The opening of the heavens, an eschatological and even apocalyptic event, testifies that Jesus is the expected Messiah, as do the visible descent of the Spirit and the voice from heaven affirming that Jesus is not just beloved of God (others in the Bible, such as Abraham and Daniel were also called beloved), but he is God’s Son, a title that here points especially to Jesus’ role as God’s royal representative on earth (Psalm 2:7).