Baptism of the Lord / A 09/01/2011
Matthew 3, 13-17 (p. 345)
Day this Sunday marks the transition between time Christmas and the usual time which begins tomorrow. Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River has a dual meaning. It gives us a view of the mystery of the Incarnation and at the same time it opens, after years of hidden life in Nazareth, Jesus' public ministry in the midst of his people. The baptism of Jesus is a revelation of his mission, a founding moment for everything that follows. And that's probably why it is also a manifestation of the Triune God.
In the waters of the Jordan the Lord tells us the purpose of his coming among us, the reason for his brotherhood with every man from his birth among animals the manger of Bethlehem: that every man can become a beloved son of the Father. All the Lord's mission is precisely to reveal not only God as his Father but as the Father of all. All acts and all the words of the Lord will be a reminder of our divine vocation creatures of God we are made to be his son, just by baptism. "Wherever he went, he did good" is how the chief Apostle summarizes the ministry of his Master and Lord. This means that God the Father revealed by Jesus has the essential characteristic kindness. It is understood that if we claim to be his son, we must walk the same path that Jesus, being the reflection of divine goodness wherever we go.
If the baptism of Jesus, our divine vocation is revealed, we also know how to stand in the way of our deification. For the baptism that Jesus wants to receive from the hands of John is a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Hence the reaction of John no mistake and that the Lord is the lesson: Are not you trying to reverse the roles? The reaction of John announces another at the other end of the Gospel the evening of Holy Thursday. Remember the amazing initiative of the Lord on the eve of his death: he wants to wash his disciples' feet in a gesture reserved for slaves. And Peter denied his Lord of the downgrade, this reversal of roles between God and man ... In the waters of the Jordan labor force Jesus to John, for two reasons at least. He is the Son of God wants to show solidarity with the sinners we are. But it is also free us from the power of evil and sin as it descends into the waters. And this is the beginning of his ministry, his divine service to us. Not only do we prove that we're meant to be the son of God and live accordingly, but also give us the opportunity to heal our sin by baptism, faith and acts of kindness and justice. And this divine service release will peak in the testimony of the incredible gift of self on the cross. The celebration of this day we have planned so beyond ordinary time in the Easter season.
Celebrating Baptism of the Lord is bound to remember our own baptism and our condition of Christians in this world. That we repeat these great truths of our faith. Yes, we are truly the son and girls beloved of the Father. Yes, we are already free from the powers of evil even if we remain weak and subject to many temptations. Yes, we are called to live our lives leaving us inspired and led by the Spirit of God. Perhaps one of the temptations of our Christian life is it that John and Peter ... We believe that the Lord goes too far! If we move sometimes so short in our struggle against sin and evil in us in our lives, even if it's not because we do not let the risen Jesus to play its role as Savior? When we put our trust in the true power of the Spirit Saint, when we believe can transform our hearts and our lives if we are men and women of good will, then yes, we are moving in the lives of the son of God, and often more visible and concrete. Being Led by the Spirit also means profit even know our weaknesses and our relapses. If God allows, maybe to put us in the spirit of humility, a spirit without which God can not do wonders in us. Nothing would be worse for us than to no longer have faith in the transforming power of the grace of baptism in us. We are not Christians once and for all, we become a little more each day if we are faithful to the Spirit, unto the great passage from death, with Jesus where we will have the strength to say: Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!
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