Verbum Dei UK

Isaiah 42:1-4 . 6-7; Acts 10:34-38 ; Matthew 3:13-17

MEDITATION:

This Sunday is about the Baptism of Jesus.

The Son of God didn't start his public life from a golden throne, but in the queue of sinners for John's baptism in the river Jordan. That's humility. For the Orthodox church (Christians in the East), the 'epiphany' (the revelation of the divinity of Jesus) is actually the day of his baptism. We want to join him in his resurrection, but will we join him in that humility?

 

As people think of the Christian mission, many think that it's not for them because it's only for some kind of 'saintly' individuals who have done admirable good works - who aren't in the queue of sinners. But that's not true. If it were, I probably wouldn't be a missionary priest! Our main mission is to tell of God's mercy. There's a long list of saints who show that. Paul had supported the assassination of Christians (as we remembered on St Stephen's day Dec 26th). Think of king David's Psalm asking for mercy (Ps 51). Peter, out of cowardice, denied that he even knew Jesus on Good Friday. Jesus certainly didn't belong in that queue! But that's where he chose to be. And he's so humble, that he chooses to be with you and I today!

Baptism is very symbolic. It began in the river Jordan, where people acknowledged that they were far from perfect. Our infant baptism today symbolises that splash. We're all due to go under -to die, but we can rise again. Loving like Jesus brings challenges where we have to die to ourselves, but it will lead to joy afterwards.

The prophecy of Isaiah today is praising 'the chosen servant' and ten chapters further on it calls for 'the thirsty' to come to the water (Isaiah 55:1 ). It calls us to appreciate that we're lacking a lot. We're thirsty for a Life and a Love on which we can rely. We may have things arranged in some kind of way, but we can't pin all of our hopes on them. We need God. It's great to appreciate that, because then we humbly seek -we humbly renew our baptism (as at every Easter). That's what God's waiting for in order to inundate us with his Life.

Jesus in the queue of sinners seeking baptism is revealing how He was taking the whole sinful history of mankind on his own shoulders. His baptism is also a symbolic repetition of the whole of history! Calvary is a continuation of his baptism! That's a very relevant part of Christology. The Gospels are not just in memory of the fact that the person of Jesus voluntarily lived as a poor man and bore crucifiction many years ago, but they are a revelation of the fact that Christ (God Himself) is forever loving mankind like that. He identifies with the fallen… and then comes resurrection. That's an inherent part of Christology. Many icons of the past actually picture the baptism like a descent into the tomb. The Apostolic Creed says 'He descended into hell', and that's actually has a prologue in his descent in the Jordan!

There are plenty of problems in life. One is M.S.! But there's a much bigger one which faces every single one of us: death! But someone has overcome that. That's worth being baptised for. The Baptism of Jesus today is something that can't be pictured or explained by us, and yet it's a reality, and that's what receiving the Holy Spirit is like! It's well worth giving thanks for today (Eucharist). Let's not be  like employees fulfilling the boss's orders, but rather like friends, brothers and sisters following Christ with enthusiastic loving hearts.

............Dara.

 

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