HOMILY OF THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
BY: Fr Cyril Unachukwu CCE
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11/ Titus 2:11-17; 3:4-7/Luke 3:15-16,21-22
It is often amazing to reflect on the extent God goes in order win us to know Him and to freely consent to the demands of righteousness, by obeying the commandments and returning love for love. The Baptism of Jesus by John in the River Jordan is one of such moments when Jesus humbly gave us the example of submission to the demands of righteousness. In Jesus’ kenotic humility, God disclosed who He was. He who had no need of human nature, assumed our nature to raise us up once again and restore our lost dignity back to us. He who had no need of cleansing, submitted Himself to be baptised in order to show us the way to gain unlimited access to God’s mercy, blessings and favours. May the blessings and favours of our Baptismal encounter be renewed within us; Amen.
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With the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, we liturgically make a transition from the Christmas Season to the first strand of the Ordinary Season. The Readings of today’s celebration give us indication about the Feast we are celebrating and of its significance both in the life and mission of our Lord Jesus and in our lives as Christians. In the Gospel (Mt 3:13-17), Jesus was very clear in his response to John the Baptist about the significance of his Baptism; “it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.” Hence, John was right in attempting to resist Baptising Jesus. One thing remains striking about the life and mission of Jesus Christ; namely, how he continued to empty himself in order to make the effects of his Mission reach all men and women and also to every corner of the earth. This kenotic approach of Jesus remains one of the distinctive patrimony and style of life He left as model for those who would become his followers. In his condescension, God continued to raise him to that height which is above every order (Phil 2:1-11). This was very evident in the Spirit that descended upon him like a Dove and in the voice that spoke from heaven “this is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.” In other words, here is another instance of God’s approval and of the revelation of the Word to Whom we must listen in order to live and act as God wants us to live and act. This was part of the content of the preaching of the disciples as we heard in the Second Reading (Acts 10:34-38), where Peter addressing Cornelius and his household noted, “God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.” The Sacrament of Baptism is one of the surest spiritual encounters anybody can make within which the goodness and power of God are made manifest in the life of a believer. At the Waters of Baptism, the Holy Spirit and the power of God effect their good works within us.
It is impossible to conclude the Feast of today without reflecting on the significance of our encounter with God; especially on the significance of our fundamental encounter with Him through the Waters of Baptism. The Sacrament of Baptism opens up to us the door of God’s grace and initiates in us the new life, status and dignity which God has effected and established through Jesus Christ and in which we partake through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Baptism, we stably receive the access card to the warehouse of grace. The First Reading (Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7) speaks prophetically about these effects in the light of Christ who was “appointed as covenant of the people and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.” These are the spiritual effects that God accomplishes in us at Baptism through the merits of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Firstly, cleansing us from Original Sin and leading us to enjoy the freedom of the Children of God. Secondly, regenerating us anew into Children of God in such a way that we become sons and daughters of God through the Son of God. Thirdly, establishing us as Christians whose goal and objective in life are to follow the model of Christ’s life and to witness to His Gospel. And fourthly, making of us members of the Church of Christ, the Family of God. As we reconnect ourselves to these great and gracious things that the Lord has done for us, it remains an opportunity to examine ourselves of our attitude towards sin; of our consciousness of the Spiritual connection we have with God; of our readiness to live in such a way that our style of life becomes a witness to our faith and contact with Christ; and of our fidelity to the Church our Mother in the faith, of our readiness to contribute our quota for the integral edification of the Church. The grace of Baptism empowers us to do what is right, to put our freedom to right use under the guide and enlightenment of God’s grace so that we may become pleasing and acceptable to Him.
Lord Jesus Christ, at your Baptism, God affirmed your Divine Sonship and the Holy Spirit came upon You. At our Baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit and become adoptive sons and daughters of God. Renew Your gift of grace within us that we may daily live as God’s children; Amen. Happy Sunday
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