Message of Abbot Paul - The Baptism of the Lord
Message from Fr Paul for Sunday, 9th January 2022
On the Sunday after the Epiphany, we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist, which is, in fact, one of the three manifestations or epiphanies we commemorate on 6th January: the coming of the Magi, following a star, with their prophetic gifts, the Baptism of Jesus and the First Miracle, the transforming of water into wine at the Wedding Feast of Cana. It’s a day when we can think about the great Sacrament of Baptism and our own baptism in particular. How has baptism changed my life and how do I live out my baptismal promises today? How do I interact with all the graces received? Am I conscious of how much God loves me, his beloved son or daughter?
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Our Gospel passage comes from Luke, (Lk 3: 15-16, 21-22), and is rather short. Let’s read it again.
“A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’”
The text consists of John’s testimony as to the true Messiah, the Christ, and the account of the Theophany that took place when Jesus had been baptised. The ministry of John the Baptist has brought about an expectancy among the crowds who wonder whether John himself might be the Christ. He declares categorically that he is not. His baptism is no more than a symbolic rite to accompany the confession of sin and a spirit of repentance, whereas the Messiah will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire, in other words, with divine forgiveness and the gift of God’s own life. What was forfeited with Adam’s sin will be restored through the adoption in Christ of forgiven sinners as sons and daughters of God. Jesus is at prayer when the heavens open and the Holy Spirit, in the visible form of a dove, comes down and rests upon him, confirming his consecration as incarnate Son of God. The Holy Spirit is accompanied by the voice of the Father from heaven saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved: my favour rests on you.” Those present have a vision in sight and sound of the Holy Trinity. This is truly an Epiphany.
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To go back to the questions posed in the first paragraph. Can I suggest that you think about them, not all of them perhaps, but one or two? Am I conscious of being God’s beloved on whom his favour rests? If so, how has that changed and transformed my life?
