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Baptism, Bible, Cardinal Cantalamessa, Catholic Church, Christianity, discipleship, faith, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, God, Jesus
If you feel that this has been a short Christmas season you are not wrong. Sometimes the calendar affords another Sunday during the days of Christmas but not this year. The season ends with today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord but even during the days between the Feast of the Epiphany and today’s feast, the Church (reflected in the weekday Mass readings) begins to turn its gaze away from the manger scene and the wonder of the incarnation and towards the adult Jesus as he begins his public ministry. Today, we gaze upon Jesus who accepts his mission from the Father.
In his book, “The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus” Cardinal Raneiro Cantalamessa notes that something unique was accomplished in the very life of Jesus on that day by the Jordan river. Cantalamessa points out that it is at this point in his “growth in wisdom and grace” that his mission becomes apparent to Jesus in “clear and concrete terms”. Jesus is to be the Servant of God.
In the reading from Isaiah (Is. 42:1-4, 6-7) we hear it said, “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit…” In today’s gospel, the voice of the Father is heard saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” In the descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father, Jesus – who is both the eternal Word made Flesh and fully human – is able to say “yes” to his mission from the Father. Jesus was to assume the role of the Servant of Yahweh.
In the time of Jesus there was (as we heard in the gospel) a growing expectation of the coming of the Christ, the Messiah – often spoken and thought of in earthly terms of power and authority. But also in the thought of Israel (reflected in Isaiah and the other prophets) there began to emerge the image of the “servant of Yahweh” who would accomplish God’s will by suffering, by self-abasement, by being held in contempt, by sacrifice.
Cantalamessa writes, “It is at this moment (that day on the banks of the Jordan river), therefore, insofar as it is given for us to know, that the fusion occurs in Jesus’ consciousness – in his human consciousness – of the two figures of the Messiah and the Servant of God…” Jesus is Messiah but he will fulfill his mission as Messiah by being the Servant of God.
During the days of Christmas, we have been invited to gaze upon the infant Christ and reflect upon the wonder of the incarnation. On today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord we are invited to gaze upon Jesus who begins his mission by being anointed with the Holy Spirit and hearing the voice of the Father. The most fundamental response any of us can make to Christ is to gaze upon him.
I will end by offering two images of Jesus for us to gaze upon. Jesus who is Messiah and Servant of God. The first image is from the beginning of Jesus’ mission – though sinless, Jesus is willing to be in the very midst of sinners who are seeking John’s baptism of repentance. The second image is from the end of Jesus’ ministry when he fulfills his mission in obedience to the will of the Father – though sinless, Jesus is willing to be sacrificed on the cross for us with a sinner on his left and a sinner on his right.
Jesus alone is Messiah and he fulfills his mission as Messiah through his willingness to be the Servant of God.
The Alternate Path 