He Is One Of Us

𝐉𝐀𝐍. 𝟏𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐁𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈: 𝐈𝐬𝐚 𝟒𝟐:𝟏-𝟒, 𝟔-𝟕

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟐𝟗:𝟏-𝟒, 𝟑, 𝟗-𝟏𝟎 “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞.”

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐈: 𝐀𝐜 𝟏𝟎:𝟑𝟒-𝟑𝟖

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓 𝟑:𝟏𝟑-𝟏𝟕                 

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞” (𝐯.𝟐𝟐) 

         The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord that we are celebrating today officially puts a cap to the Christmas Season but at the same time it also marks the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus to draw all men to God by reconciling “𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧, 𝐛𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝, 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬.” (𝐂𝐨𝐥.𝟏:𝟐𝟎)        

          Christ’s baptism is actually his second birth because it gives birth to his earthly ministry, a mission that would end on the cross. In fact, Jesus did not need to be baptized by John the Baptist who called on the people to repent but he asked to be baptized because in doing so Christ had identified himself with humanity.       

         As we are on the subject of baptism, kindly allow me to guide you to what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about baptism which incidentally is one of the seven sacraments which the Church refer to as signs of inward grace that was instituted by Christ himself for the sanctification of the believer.

         CCC 1272 states: “𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘉𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘉𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬 (𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳) 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵. 𝘕𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.”        

         I believe that all baptized Catholics must be aware of the significance of this particular Sacrament and it begins by knowing what takes place at the time when a person is baptized. Water is poured upon the head of the child and at the same time the words appointed by Our Lord Jesus Christ are repeated – “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” By some mysterious action, the Holy Spirit descends at that same moment upon the person being baptized and the person and we are made temples of the Holy Spirit and endowed with sanctifying Grace.

         Just as with Naaman (𝟐 𝐊𝐠𝐬 𝟓:𝟏𝟒) we too are cleansed with water and delivered from the leprosy of sin, both original and actual. What makes our baptism significant is that those upon whom sanctifying Grace has been bestowed by virtue of baptism become children of God and heirs of heaven and only the baptized have the right to call God their Father. This is the reason why in the early times the Lord’s Prayer was not taught to the unbaptized.

         Because of sanctifying Grace, a new life begins for the baptized person – a life in God. This is the reason why baptism is at times referred to as the birth of the soul whereas the other Sacraments are its food or its medicine. In essence, baptism is also called regeneration because it is the start of another and a new life.

         And if there is anything in the CCC 1272 that will give us an idea of our identity as baptized Catholics it can be found in the phrase “𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭” which to me is not only so profound but it provides us with a reference point if we are to unlock the mystery of our nature.

         To be configured is to be conformed to the image of Christ which means that as we have all been created in the image and likeness of God (𝐆𝐞𝐧 𝟏:𝟐𝟔), God already knew us from the beginning of time and “𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐧” (𝐑𝐨𝐦 𝟖:𝟐𝟗).        

         Our being baptized seals not just our membership in the Catholic Church but it puts an imprint into our souls that we have become “𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬” built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood (𝟏 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝟐:𝟓). By our Baptism we are given the privilege to share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission.

         Through Baptism we are initiated to become part of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that we may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Baptism gives us a share in the common priesthood of all believers. (CCC 1268)

         This definition of a baptized Christian was given emphasis by Saint John Paul II who once told the youth of America “𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭.” Which is why there shouldn’t be any doubt in our minds as to our identity since having become a member of the Church, we have no more ownership of our own selves, but we now belong to him who purchased us with his own blood (𝐀𝐜 𝟐𝟎:𝟐𝟖).       

          In the same way, the baptism of Jesus not only made him one with us but it was an opportunity for God to formally unveil his plan for the whole of creation. Jesus’s baptism was in fulfillment of the Will of God because at his baptism the heavens were opened and the waters were sanctified by the descent of the Holy Spirit, signifying the beginning of a new creation.

         The beauty of the Baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River and to some extent even our own baptism was in the action of the Holy Spirit who empowers Jesus as he begins his earthly ministry. This is the same with us because it is through the Holy Spirit who indwelt in us in our baptism who provides us with the power to plunge into the mission field.

         Though we may not be aware of it at the time we were baptized, our parents and godfathers who stood to represent us during our baptism were given candles that reflect our identity as a light to the nations. As ordained by God, we as baptized Christians are to become the light who shines and who will give justice to a world marked by perversity and sin.

         With our incorporation into the Body of Christ, our mission should move us outward and not inward as we are called and commanded by Christ to be the salt and light to those around us. Christ wants his love and truth to shine through us so that others may see the goodness and truth of God’s message of salvation. What this means is that through baptism, we are ushered into the mission field because baptism is a covenant, an incarnation of the love of God in us and a sign of justice in and for the world.

         As the heavens opened as Jesus was being baptized and God said: “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞; 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝” (𝐯.𝟏𝟕) we will also find that heaven will open for us if we will just allow the Holy Spirit to move in us that we may become effective witnesses to bring Christ to the world.

         With the Baptism of the Lord putting an end to the Christmas Season, it’s also a symbolism that being baptized means putting an end to our old way of life and it should usher in the beginning of a new way of life.

         As he began his ministry, Jesus had to leave a comfortable life living in peace in the confines of Joseph’s carpentry shop and stepping into a life marked with rejection and resistance. This is the same with us as it is not always easy to go and evangelize in a relativist society.

        We should not, however, lose sight of the fact that in baptism we are not only renewed as the Holy Spirit empowers us and equips us with the grace to continue the mission of Christ and CCC1274 points out that: “𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 (𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫) 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.” (𝐄𝐩𝐡 𝟒:𝟑𝟎) Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life.

        Our Church assures us that the faithful Christian who has “𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥” until the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to depart this life “𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡,” (𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐏𝟏) with his baptismal faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of faith - and in the hope of resurrection. (𝘌𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 - 𝘑𝘢𝘯. 11, 2026)