GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 9TH JANUARY 2017
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
1ST READING: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7 OR Acts 10:34-38
PSALM: Psalm 29:1-4,9-10
GOSPEL: Matthew 3:13-17
THEME: HE COMES TO MAKE US NEW
With the celebration of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, liturgically the Christmas festivities have come to an end – Jesus is no longer a baby. He is now a man.
After complete silence on his teenage years and early adulthood, Jesus resurfaces on the pages of the Gospels with the account of his baptism in the Jordan River. Though sinless, he submits himself to a baptism meant for sinners. By associating himself with sinners, through this act, he clearly defines his mission – he has come to save sinners.
To free prisoners, Jesus, by means of his baptism, enters their confinement and dungeons. This fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah, “I am the LORD, I have called you…to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness” (Isa. 42:6-7).
The immersion of Jesus into the waters of Jordan is not recounted in our Gospel text for today. However, Matthew, recounts what happens when Jesus came out of the water – “And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased’” (Mat. 3:16-17).
The above scene brings to mind the Genesis account, where we read that the Spirit of the Lord hovered over the face of the water and God spoke his Word, “Let there be…” (cf. Gen, 1:2ff). The baptism of Jesus, therefore, can well be considered as an act of God’s recreation of the world. Now in the person of Jesus Christ, a new chapter has been opened and God makes all things new. Anyone who “fulfils all righteousness” by placing his faith in Jesus is made new. In the words of Peter, “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35).
In celebrating the baptism of the Lord, we celebrate our own baptism. We celebrate our renunciation of evil and our profession of faith in God. We celebrate our resolve to follow Jesus wherever he leads us.
May today’s celebration remind us of our own baptismal promises and rekindle in us the desire for holiness. May the baptism of fire and the Holy Spirit transform us and make us pure and new in the eyes of God.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, you chose to share in my humanity that I may share in your divinity. With the help of your Spirit, I renounce sin and uphold righteousness. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).