HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD — YEAR C
HOMILY THEME: SUNDAY BAPTISM AND BELONGING
BY: Bishop Gerald M. Musa
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11/ Titus 2:11-17; 3:4-7/Luke 3:15-16,21-22
We all love to have a sense of belonging. Every organisation attracts members and gives them a sense of belonging. We use identity cards or even passwords as evidence of our membership. Religious organisations and cultural groups have different rituals for conferring membership or some methods of initiation for new members. For the Jews, initiation is through circumcision.People become member of the Church through baptism.
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This Sunday, the Church remembers the baptism of Jesus. Just before he began his public ministry, Jesus approached John for baptism. His baptism has some significant reasons: It was a mark of humility; It was a symbolic act which made him stand in solidarity with all sinners. Furthermore, the baptism of Jesus was a moment to confirm, assert and affirm his identity as “beloved Son of God” (Luke 3:22). People who are baptized are called Christians.However, it is not enough to be baptized and to be called a Christian. We must not just be nominal Christians, but we should live a life that is worthy of our identity as Christians. We should be proud to assert in public and in private that we are not only baptized, but also active and practicing Christians. Does our Christian identity correspond with our lifestyle?
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