The Baptism of the Lord
With today’s celebration of the Baptism of the Lord we have reached the end of the Christmas Season and will begin Ordinary Time. Remember that Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. It is called Ordinary Time because the weeks of this time are counted as you will see and this counting will be interrupted during the times of Lent and Easter and will continue after Pentecost (the last day of the Easter season). This year since the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on January 11th, the next day is the Memorial to Saint Marguerite Bourgeois and Tuesday, January 13th is Tuesday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time.
Between Christmas Day and today, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, there has been a whirlwind of activity and time go by. Jesus is born as an infant, the shepherds visit, Jesus is named and circumcised, the Magi come to worship the infant Jesus, the escape into Egypt, the return to Nazareth and Jesus is presented in the temple. We next hear of Jesus when he’s 12 and on the annual trip to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover, Jesus is lost and then found in the temple listening to and questioning the teachers. After all of that comes today’s Gospel when Jesus comes to be baptized in the river Jordan by John. He’s now about 30 years of age. All of that is remembered in 18 days.
As Jesus comes forth to be baptized John the Baptist recognizes who He is once again (The Holy Spirit has nudged John both times). The first time was when the newly expectant Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth and as soon as Elizabeth is greeted by Mary the child in her womb leaps for joy and Elizabeth exclaims: “Why has this happened that the Mother of my Lord comes to visit me?” At Jesus’ Baptism John recognizes Jesus and to paraphrase says that this is backwards that it’s him who should be baptized by Jesus. Jesus’ response to John is to just “just let it be so for now” so John goes ahead and baptizes Jesus.
As you think about Jesus’ baptism, I’d like you to also think about your own baptism. How important is your baptism to you? What is the most important sacrament you have received? About 40 years ago I was asked to go to a meeting of the group of people preparing to be accepted into our faith and their leaders. One of the questions they asked me was: “What is the most important sacrament you have received?” My immediate answer was baptism because that’s the one I live every moment of my life. The other 6 strengthen my ability to live my baptism. I will and you will live my/your baptism until each of us takes our last breath. Baptism isn’t a moment in time but is a life-long lived experience. Within that light, think about your baptism.
Deacon Ray