Word to the Wise
Sunday, January 10, 2016 - The Baptism of the Lord - C (optional; new)
[opt: Isa 40:1-5, 9-11; opt: Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22]SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2016 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD [Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22] After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, 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." [Luke] The feast of the Baptism of The Lord marks the end of the Christmas/Epiphany liturgical season and the beginning of "Ordinary Time" until Lent starts. It also marks the beginning of the story of Jesus' ministry. All the gospels show the beginning of Jesus' ministry as somehow associated with John the Baptist. The three "synoptic gospels" all relate that John "baptized" Jesus. The Gospel of John simply has John recognizing Jesus as "the lamb of God." Since we are now in The Sunday cycle "C,"which features the Gospel of Luke, we have Luke's portrait of Jesus at this event. In one sentence, a great deal is said. Luke will continually portray Jesus as praying throughout his ministry. He will continually portray Jesus as someone filled with the Holy Spirit which descends on him at John's baptism. This Spirit will be poured out on the apostles at Pentecost and spread throughout the world in the Acts of the Apostles, of which Luke is also the author. This simple portrait could be ours as well. The baptism we receive, however, is baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - all of whom are represented in the gospel scene today. Are we people of prayer who acknowledge this Trinitarian presence each time we touch the holy water at church and make the sign of the cross? Today's feast is more than the recognition of Jesus as God's Beloved Son way back when. It is a reminder to us to recognize that we are also God's adopted children, baptized in the Spirit and sent forth as Jesus would be. AMEN
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