HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE POWER OF BAPTISM
BY: Fr. Mike Olumba
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11/ Titus 2:11-17; 3:4-7/Luke 3:15-16,21-22
In the first reading, Isaiah the prophet presents us more than 200 years before in advance, the personality of the Servant of God which we see later fulfilled in Jesus Christ and claimed by Him.
-He will not shout.
-He will not raise his voice.
-He will not break an almost broken reed.
-He will not put out even a flickering flame/candle/(Ngafere ya agaghi emenyu ederi na anyu anyu).
-He will be gentle.
-He will be light to the nations.
-He will preach and practice justice.
-He will liberate prisoners and open the eyes of the blind.
-He himself will be the covenant between God and humanity.
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At the baptism scene, John the Baptist was confused at seeing Jesus in line with those seeking baptism from him. “You do not need to be baptised. I should be the one asking you for baptism”. He answers; “It is well. You are right that I do not need this baptism of repentance. But this is in line with the Father’s will, that I come and be counted among sinful humanity and show solidarity with her. This is a way of saying to my brothers and sisters; ‘I understand your situation, your efforts, your weaknesses, your desires and your hunger to do better; I understand you. I am here in solidarity with you’”.
To the devil, He says by his presence; “Though you have no power over me, but here I am having walked freely into your prison and I am standing in line with those whose lives you have touched negatively. I came just to be counted as a sinner among my brothers and sisters though without being one”.
In the father’s programme, the Word took flesh and became man. He was born at a time when Caesar, a great king of the world wanted to count all humanity under his rule in the known world. He was thus counted at birth among humanity.
When the greed and the evil desires of political officeholders to hold on to power forever, forced him and his family to flee in search of refuge and safety in a far away land, the family ran away with him to Egypt. Today, without being a sinner, he went to be counted among sinners when John the Baptist called his countrymen to the baptism of repentance.
After his baptism, the Father and the Holy Spirit testified to the union between them and the Christ. The Father speaks; “This is my Beloved Son in whom my joy reposes”. The Father and the Spirit thus openly confirm the person of Christ and his ministry.
After His baptism: The Acts of Apostle (10: 37-38) tells us that after his baptism, and having received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Jesus went everywhere doing good, healing he sick and restoring sight, and freeing people from the power of evil.
He becomes a model for us also the baptised: to go everywhere doing good, healing broken lives, hearts and bodies, and freeing people from the influence of evil.
May he invigorate us, and empower us and revive in us the power of our baptism.
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