Homily Baptism of the Lord Year B: Fr. Michael Ufok
Udoekpo
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Isa 42:1-4, 6-7;
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Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10;
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Acts 10:34-38
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(Alternative Readings for YB): Isa 55:1-11; Isa 12:2-3,
4bcd-6; 1 John 5:1-9 and Mark 1:7-11
Come to the Waters; Listen, That You May Have Life!
Come to the waters, fetch it, all you
who are thirsty that you may have life! This Prophecy of Isaiah 55, rhymes with
the rest of today’s scripture readings, and with the spirit of our
celebration, the Baptism of Christ. It also gives meaning to our Christian
baptism. Baptism gives foundation to our faith. Baptism washes away our sins,
gives us the power, the freedom, the liberty to reject and renounce Satan.
With it “we are no longer slaves, but brothers and sisters,” as rightly
articulated by Pope Francis in his 2015 new year Message. As stressed in the
Gospel of Mark 1:1-12, Baptism gives us that faith, that spirit of God, that Ruah Adonai, that hope, and the grace to
choose to do good and the voice to challenge evil. With it we are changed, we
are transformed (metanoia) from our
old selves into a new life in Christ. With it we learn to love, bridge
barriers, heal divisions, and are humbled. We learn to forgive, endure, and
learn to tolerate others, the poor, the rich alike. It initiates us into the
Christian life. We become soldiers of Christ and the light of the world. Think
of the sacramental elements used during baptism, light, oils, candles, water,
white linens, and even the feast after that, etc. With it we are born again in
Christ, in the Spirit, and become God’s beloved adopted sons and daughters,
“unless you are born again you cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-5).
In
today’s Gospel Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan River. Coming up from
the water, he sees the heavens open and the Holy Spirit in form of a dove
descending upon him. He also hears a voice from heaven saying, “You are my
beloved son; with whom I am well pleased,” (Mk 1:7-11). The Spirit, the Voice! Are we listening? What
spirits are in us? What are we seeing in the baptism of Christ! What are we
hearing from today’s Bible readings? Or from today’s celebration!
Partly,
perhaps, it is that Christ, a beloved Son of God, sinelessly submitted himself
through the symbolic ritual of baptism not only in anticipation of his
suffering, trials, death and resurrection, but to teach humanity humility as a
requirement for a “life in Christ.” In his sermon Saint Augustine says, Christ,
“desired to be baptized, so that he might freely proclaim through his humility
what for us was to be a necessity’ (cf. Sermon 51, 33).
Isn’t
this necessity pictured in the metaphorical banquet foretold by Isaiah
in today’s first reading (Isa 55:1-11): “all you who are thirsty, come to
the water? You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come without
paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money… Listen that
you may have life! I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, the benefits
assured to David.”
The
Baptism of the Lord invites us to come and share in the heritage of the servant
of the Lord (40-55): the waters of justice, freedom and peace, the heritage of
selflessness, the spirit of the common good, the heritage to love the poor, the
spirit of inclusivism, the spirit to love and be faithful to the Church, the
spirit to renounce sins, and the spirit to always love and pray for one
another, especially those who are spiritually, morally
and materially thirsty, or once exiled from the truth and the love of God, or
had experienced difficulties in the past. Listening, changing hearts(metanoia), seeking the Lord or
willingness to come to this banquet are required of us, especially in a world
full of other noises and distractions. In Christ’s banquet, in the Church,
pardon, mercy, and love of God are available (Isa 55:6-7).
On the
day of our Baptism each of us are brought into God’s house without material
cost, but guided by the Spirit of God, without force! It is a free
renewal! No money is required for this banquet! Eat as you can! The wine and
milk are free as promised Abraham and his descendants! Those promises are
fulfilled in baptism! Only bring yourself! Only listen and profess the
Lord! Come into the gate of life! The love of God is free, the forgiveness of
sin and the resurrection of the dead! In baptism we die with Christ. In baptism
we rise with Christ!
In
Baptism we receive God’s grace, love and faith. Johns speaks of this faith in
the second reading: “everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is
begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten
by him….whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that
conquers the world is our faith in Christ, who came through water and blood” (1
John 5:1-9).
As
we celebrate the feast Christ's baptism today, may we
contemplate the meaning of our Christian baptism. May we, in our changing
world of today, plagued with religious extremism, division, poverty of food,
and even drinking waters; terrorism and threats of war, diseases
without immediate cure, continue to cherish our faith, gifts of been pardoned
and loved by God as his beloved sons and daughters. And may we like our brother
Christ, through the grace of our baptism be sources and conduits of life,
peace, waters of spiritual refreshment, humility, attentive to the
faith, obedience to God’s will, endurance, light of hope, white
garment of joy, happiness and loving service for one another.
Come
to the Waters, Listen that You May Have Life!
Reflection
Questions:
1.
What Lessons do we draw from the baptism of Christ in light of today's
readings?2. How do we use the spirit of baptism in us?
3. How do we respond to the voice " this is my beloved Son Listen to him"?
