The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Scriptures: Is. 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps. 103:1-4, 24-25, 27-30; Acts 10:34-38; Lk. 3:15-16, 21-22
As we ponder the events that unfold every week following the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord, we remain in awe of how beautifully God has planned everything for us. Each Sunday invites us to reflect on profound mysteries, each revealing a unique and beautiful aspect of God. We are truly fortunate to be part of a community with such a long and rich tradition. Every Sunday introduces us to new dimensions of our faith.
This week, on the second Sunday after Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This event was a decisive moment in the life of Jesus and the Gospel narrative. It holds great significance as it reveals the true identity of Jesus, marks the beginning of His public ministry, and unveils the profound relationship between God the Father and Jesus. Many scholars affirm that it was a pivotal moment in the Gospel.
The account of the Baptism of the Lord is recorded in all four Gospels, each offering a unique perspective. St. Matthew portrays Jesus as fulfilling His Father’s will when John the Baptist hesitates, insisting that he should instead be baptized by Jesus. St. Mark emphasizes Jesus as the Son of God who begins His ministry after His baptism. St. John, while not detailing the event, highlights John the Baptist’s testimony, identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This year, however, we reflect on the Gospel of Luke, where St. Luke offers his distinct perspective.
St. Luke situates the Baptism of the Lord in a deeply prayerful context. The text says “Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.” Many renowned scholars, such as Raymond Brown and Joseph Fitzmyer, recognize St. Luke’s deliberate portrayal of Jesus in prayer during His baptism. This prayerful act reveals Jesus’ divine sonship, His deep intimacy with God the Father, and the revelation of the Divine Trinity.
The image of Jesus praying at His baptism underscores His profound communion with the Father and reflects the distinctive nature of His prayer life. St. Luke frequently emphasizes the centrality of prayer in Jesus’ life. Jesus is shown praying at significant moments, including His baptism (Luke 3:21-22), before choosing the disciples (Luke 6:12-13), during the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-29), at the time of St. Peter’s denial (Luke 22:31-32), in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46), and on the cross (Luke 23:34, 46). Additionally, He teaches His disciples to pray through both words and actions, instructing them with the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4) and using parables, such as the Persistent Friend (Luke 11:5-8) and the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8), to encourage perseverance in prayer.
St. Luke also highlights Jesus’ habit of withdrawing from the crowds to spend time in prayer, as seen in Luke 5:16. For Jesus, prayer was a vital aspect of His life. His baptism not only reveals His divine sonship but also illustrates how He maintained this relationship through a life of prayer. Through prayer, Jesus experienced and enjoyed divine intimacy with His Father.
For us, the baptism signifies that we have become sons and daughters of God. Jesus is our Brother, Savior, and Lord. However, it is through prayer that we sustain and deepen this relationship. Pope Benedict XVI, in his book Jesus of Nazareth, beautifully writes, “Through prayer, we experience the closeness of God and come to recognize His presence in our lives.” This recognition nurtures a lasting and loving relationship with the Divine. Similarly, Pope Francis has called us to prioritize prayer as a source of light and hope in the context of the Jubilee 2025.
We pray that this Eucharistic celebration inspires us to imitate Jesus, who consistently prioritized prayer in His life.
Fr. Alex D’Mello
Sindhudurg
