Baptism of Our Lord:[A]: Is 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17

Baptism of Our Lord:[A]: Is 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17

Introduction: Today is the celebration of the Lord’s Baptism and equally marks the end of Christmas season, Year A. The Lord’s Baptism is providentially situated at the beginning of the year in order to remind us of our own baptism and God’s gratuitous call of us to belong to his fold and flock. It is situated thus as a way of re-awakening in us at the beginning of a new year, of who we are, and ought to be. It is a reminder that we share in the Great and One Baptism of Jesus Christ who “was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man” like us.

Baptism cleans and releases us from the bondage of Original Sin, and makes us children of God. It configures us as adopted children of God and confirms that we are members of God’s Great house hold with its embassy on earth and its administrative head quarters in Heaven where the Trinitarian God reigns supreme. On this day therefore, of utmost importance is the need for us to reflect on how far we have kept our baptismal vows. How faithful have we been to God in terms of keeping these promises.

Anecdote: 1)A certain Bostonian was seeking employment in a Chicago bank. The bank asked him to get a letter of recommendation from the Boston investment house. The Boston investment house could not praise the young man enough. His father was a knighted gentleman; his mother was a distinguished lady. His grandparents and great-grandparents were a blend of Boston’s first families. The recommendation was given without hesitation. A few days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: “We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work!” Neither is God a respecter of persons but accepts anyone from any family, nation, and race who fears God and does what is right (Acts 10:35). Our baptism may show the traditionalism but that proud should reflect in our daily life.

2) The 13th century king of France, St. Louis IX (1226-70), insisted that the grand celebration of his birthday should be held on the day of his Baptism, and not on his birthday proper.  His argument was that Baptism was the beginning of a life that would continue for eternity in the everlasting glory of Heaven. 

Joke: 1) A preacher in the South preached constantly on water baptism. The people were tired of it. The deacons suggested that he may preach on something else. He said, “Okay, give the text and I’ll preach on it.” They gave him Genesis 1:1. The next Sunday he said, “By request the text today is Genesis 1:1.” He read it and then said, “When the Lord created the earth, He made it one-fourth land and three-fourths water, and that brings me back to the subject of water baptism.”

Practical Applications: 1) The baptism of Jesus reminds us of our identity: who we are and Whose we are.  By Baptism we become sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, members of his Church, heirs of Heaven and temples of the Holy Spirit.  Most of us dipped the fingers of our right hands into the holy water font and blessed ourselves when we came into church today.  Why?  This blessing is supposed to remind us of our Baptism.  And so when I bless myself with Holy Water, I should be thinking of the fact that I am a child of God; that I have been redeemed by the Cross of Christ; that I have been made a member of God’s family and that I have been washed, forgiven, cleansed and purified by the Blood of the Lamb. 

2) Jesus’ baptism also reminds us of our mission to experience the presence of God within us, and in others and to live as the children of God in thought, word and action.

3) Let us renew our Baptismal promises, consecrating ourselves to the Holy Trinity and “rejecting Satan and all his empty promises,"

Introduction:  Baptism of the Lord

Message: The Lord is the beloved Son of the Father.  He is the light of the nations and Lord of all creation.  To him be all glory and praise. After the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Ordinary Time begins.

Saints and Events of this week: 13-Thirteenth-Monday-Saint Hilary, Bishop, doctor of the Church; 17-Seventeenth-Saint Anthony, abbot; 18-Eighteenth-The week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins.