JANUARY 12, 2014 - THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Happy Feast of the Baptism of Jesus!

The celebration of the baptism of Jesus is extremely important in the economy of salvation.  Jesus' baptism established the foundation for the way and manner in which His redeeming love and grace would be offered to fallen humanity to the end of time.

John the Baptist had the same response most of us have when considering the necessity of Jesus' baptism.  John tells Jesus, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?"  Why would Jesus need to be baptized?  Jesus' baptism does not concern a need for His own conversion and salvation.  Rather, Jesus' baptism concerns His need to set in place the way in which we would be saved.  As the Code of Canon Law states, baptism is "the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation" (canon 849).  St. gregory of Nazianzus states, "He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us."

What was it about Jesus' baptism that makes our own baptism the wellspring of eternal life?  It was at the baptism of Jesus that he took on our sin.  His immersion into the waters was his immersion into the darkness and sin of humanity.  In the context of being immersed and taking on our sin he receives his mission of redemption, which will end with a horrific death on the cross.  Matthew states, "After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he was the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him" (Mt. 3:16)  The baptism of Jesus by John and His ministry and mission are inseparable.  We are told to "listen to him" as he begins His ministry in Galilee.

The Feast of the Baptism of Jesus highlights the origin and importance of the sacramental life of the Church.  We are united to Christ in the manner that he established and not according to our own design.  The sacraments, beginning with baptism, are no less than a saving encounter with Jesus.  In the words of Pope Francis, in the sacraments, "we encounter Christ in all his saving power, we are confirmed in the joy of faith, and sent forth to share with others the joy of salvation."

Ad majorem Dei gloriam,
Fr. John F. Jirak, Pastor