Sisters of St. Mary of Namur

January 10, 2010 

The Baptism of the Lord :  Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Most people know what it's like to be filled with expectation.  The question is:  what is it that fills us with expectation?   What do we expect?  If we expect everything in life to be painless, perfect and wonderful, then we will definitely be disappointed.  Today's gospel really gives us the answer to what will bring happiness to our expectation.  It is the coming of the Christ... Jesus, THE One.  He is the One who brings the Holy Spirit and fire.  The Holy Spirit is light,   truth, and love.  Fire brightens and illuminates and warms.  No matter what happens in our world of struggle, wars and suffering we have the assurance that Jesus has come and come to stay.

St. Luke talks about the Baptism of Jesus and places John the Baptist right in front of us.  But immediately John tells the people that he is NOT the One.  He is not the Christ, the Savior, the Messiah.  This is what the people were wondering in their hearts.  What do we wonder in our own hearts?  Do we wonder about Jesus?  Do we look at the false images in our world and wonder if there we will find the One?  John will not allow the people to see him as the Messiah for one moment.  He immediately points them toward Jesus who asks to be baptized by John.  In doing so, Jesus makes himself one with the people who are being baptized.  He makes himself one with us forever. 

After the baptism of Jesus, as he was praying, the gospel tells us of the most amazing thing that happened.  "...heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.' "  Jesus heard and knew at that moment how beloved he was and always would be.  This is the incredible truth that the gospel reveals to us also today.  WE too, are that beloved son, that beloved daughter because Jesus became one with all of us through the baptism of John.  We become one with God and all humanity through our own baptism.  And when we were baptized, the heavens opened and our hearts heard the words we must never forget:  "You are my beloved daughter/my beloved son.  With you I am well pleased."

                                            -Sister Patricia Brady