Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
(Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17)
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Baptism of Jesus reveals to
the world that he is the Son of God. The evangelist does not emphasize so much the
water of the river as the voice from heaven. The story reaches its climax when
the Father proclaims, “This is my beloved Son…” At this moment all present know
the means God has chosen to save the world.
These words have resonance in the first reading. They are
taken from the second part of the Book of the prophet Isaiah. The exiles from
Jerusalem have lived in Babylon for decades when God tells them, “Enough.” He
recognizes that they have suffered sufficiently to be cleansed of their sins.
He chooses an agent to carry out His plan to save them. He describes the agent as
His servant in terms similar to what is said of Jesus in the Gospel. He is “pleased”
with His servant to whom He has given His “spirit.”
Biblical scholars have had difficulty identifying who this
servant is. Some say he is a collective person -- the people of Israel. But the
four “Songs of the Suffering Servant” do not fit well with a collective person.
In sum, these passages from the second part of Isaiah give a portrait more of
an individual. They say, for example: “And now the Lord says, who formed me in
the womb to be his servant” (Isaiah 49:5). So, who is the servant? Perhaps one
of the prophets like Jeremiah who suffered so much in Jerusalem before he was
taken to Babylon?
The Gospel provides a more satisfactory answer. The servant
is Jesus of Nazareth. We see his suffering clearly during Holy Week when the
four “Songs” are read. However, to accept this answer, we must broaden the
dimensions of the story. The servant has not come to save only the exiles of
Israel but the whole world. His self-sacrifice will redeem all men and women banished
to the island of sin so that they may walk with heads high in justice.
We encounter Jesus Christ above all in the sacraments.
Consider this: In Baptism, he sanctifies our being. In Penance and the
Anointing of the Sick, he heals our souls. In Confirmation and especially in
the Eucharist, he nourishes and strengthens us. And in Matrimony and Holy
Orders, he prepares us to fulfill our destiny.
The emphasis of this Christmas season has always been on
God's gift. Above all, he has given us his own Son as our redeemer. By carrying
out this mission, Jesus shows God's love for us. Now we can reciprocate his
loving initiative. As St. Paul exhorts the community of Christians in Rome, we can
clothe ourselves with Christ. That is, we can help others, not only our
relatives but also those in need elsewhere.
A Christian church insists that each of its members have an
"inner journey" and an "outer journey." The "inner
journey" consists of Scripture meditation and prayer. The "outer
journey" involves community service. This might be visiting the sick or
bringing meals to the elderly. Just as it is essential that we always pray, it
is meritorious that we lend a hand in helping others.
While we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, we can hardly forget
our own baptisms. Like Jesus in the Gospel, we have been anointed with the Holy
Spirit. Jesus will please God by illuminating our path to Him. In return, may
we illuminate the paths of others to Him by our humble service.
