Sunday Gospel Comment

 

Alberic Jacovone OSB

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YEAR B

Is 55,1-11; 1 Jn 5,1-9; Mk1,7-11

Born in Water & Spirit 

The Baptism of the Lord. From the very beginning, Christians linked their prayer and celebration in such a way that Christ’s birth in human flesh, was slowly leading to an appreciation of our spiritual birth in the waters of baptism. For them, the Lord’s birthday included: the ‘Incarnation’ at Bethlehem, the Feast of Lights (Greek: "Ta Phota" = the Wise Men’s Star) and the solemn declaration, when God the Father himself said: ‘This is my Son, my Beloved!’. Over the centuries, Christians of the West have given more prominence to Christmas, while Christians of East (Orthodox and Orientals) have given emphasis to the Epiphany, leading to the Baptism of the Lord. Both traditions honour the total saving event of our salvation: while Christmas celebrates the Incarnation of the Son of God and His birth in human flesh, the Epiphany celebrate the Wise Men’s Star and especially the Father’s words at Jesus’ Baptism:‘This is my Son’!. While born at Bethlehem, this ‘Son’ never lost his eternal birth, as the Father’s eternally begotten Word

Beautifully St. Leo the Great in 450AD reflects on this important point, as he said: "everywhere, was God’s Kingdom to be spread and established; and everywhere was his Gospel to be proclaimed. But it was also everywhere that sick people were to be healed and miracles to be accomplished. So, as the Incarnate Word came in a remote village, and was born in a modest family, it was never meant that the first fruits of His coming were to be limited to the narrow confines of a paternal home: He -who did not disdain to be born for us all- chose from the very beginning to make himself known to us all.

Dignity of our Baptism. The above reflection helps us deepen our understanding of Baptism. The early Christian Writers, including St. Leo, spoke with truly inspiring language, about the dignity of our Christian life through Baptism. "Acknowledge, o Christian, your dignity; consider the depth of God’s immense condescension for you!"...

This Year, the Gospel of Mark helps us reflect on the Baptism of our Lord: as Jesus was ‘coming up’ from the water (Jordan River), the Holy Spirit ‘came down’ -as a dove- on Jesus, who thus received an outpouring (anointing) of the Spirit which empowered & commissioned him to be "Messiah" i.e. the Anointed-One of God. At the same time, the Father’s words were heard: "You are my Son, my Beloved!". These insights have a parallel with our Baptism: as Jesus was baptized in water and spirit so are we. To start with, every form of life is stirred in the depth of waters, ever since God’s Spirit hovered over the waters of creation (Book of Genesis). Indeed our own life is formed -it decodes itself beyond any control from us- in the waters of our mother’s womb. When we are born the "waters break". Our Christian life follows a similar pattern: at Baptism, we are born into God’s life when we go in, and emerge from the waters -the breaking of waters- of Baptism. But this is not all: at Baptism we are "christened"; that is, we are anointed with blessed oil, which is called "Chrism" and symbolizes anointing with the Spirit. In turn, the Spirit appoints us to be "sent by God" (= messiahs with a small m), to continue and extend Jesus’ mission on earth. Just as Jesus received the fullness of God’s Spirit, which empowered & commissioned him to be Messiah = Christ = God’s Anointed-One. So, we are Christened, that is we are anointed with Chrism, thus receiving the Holy Spirit and being commissioned to live & act in a Christ-like manner: we truly become ‘Christian’, which means = anointed -like Jesus- with the Holy Spirit = being Christ-like.

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