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Dear Parish Family,
The Christmas season ends today with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The beginning and end of the season have much in common. On Christmas, we celebrate God becoming one of us, taking upon himself a human nature. On the Feast of the Baptism, we celebrate the public proclamation that Jesus is more than just one of us. He has more than a human nature. He has a Divine Nature.
Today’s Gospel, from the Gospel of Mark, ‘fast forwards’ the story 30 years from Jesus’ birth. The Gospel of Mark begins his narrative with the public life of Jesus. First, we meet John the Baptist teaching and baptizing at the Jordan River. He is demanding an end to evil in the world and calling the people to accept his baptism as a sign that they will join him in the fight for the Kingdom of God. He also speaks about the one to come. The last book of the Old Testament is the Book of Malachi. It ends with a prophecy that Elijah would come again to prepare the world for the Messiah. John is this new Elijah, as Gabriel had told Zachary.
Water had special significance for the people of Israel. Here in the desert, people responding to John’s call had come to the water for baptism. The river has been a potent symbol for them, for healing, cleanliness and God’s providence. Jesus entered John’s baptism just like the others, entirely submerging his road-weary body when told to. But when he came up from underwater, a great surprise waited for him and the people and John. The New American Bible translates it this way: the heavens were “torn open.” Out of the torn sky came the voice of the Holy Spirit, to announce to the world that God’s ancient covenant of love now was before them in person, in the flesh—dirty and wet, just as they were. This was again the fulfilment of longing of Israel that God would speak to them just like he did at Mount Sinai.
Jesus chooses to be baptized by John to show that he is one with all those who are fighting against evil and fighting for the Kingdom of God. John says that he himself does not deserve to unfasten Jesus’ sandals, but Jesus demands he be baptized. The people of the world who long for the Kingdom must see that their King is one of them. The voice of God the Father proclaims that Jesus is the Son of God. This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased.
Most of us have already experienced the river, now known as baptismal water. It washes us clean, washes us free so that today we may surge up and out of our sin and reluctance, so that we may be surprised by the great words Jesus now says to each and every one of us: “You are my beloved; in you I am well pleased”.
What does this mean to us? It means that our union with Jesus is a union with God. It means that Jesus is not just another man, not even another extraordinary man. He is God. He has a human nature given to him through Mary, and a divine nature eternally at one with the God. We don’t just give him the title God. He is God. When we seek forgiveness, we are forgiven not by the priest but by God. When you married in the Church, Jesus united His Love to your love for each other in the sacrament of marriage. Holiness is possible for each of us through the Sacraments in the person of Jesus.Fr. Tom Kunnel C.O.