Today we keep the great feast of the Baptism of Jesus. It marks the end of our season of Christmas in the church calendar and the beginning, once again, of Ordinary Time. In the Gospel (Matthew 3: 13-17), we hear how Jesus asks to be baptized by Saint John the Baptist. After this, he begins His three years of public ministry that we will hear about in our Gospel readings each Sunday, as the year unfolds. Perhaps, like John, we might be puzzled by Jesus’ request. After all, Jesus is the Son of God and is “one like us in all things but sin.” Surely Jesus does not need to be baptized? This is certainly true, but as Bishop Robert Barron puts it: “Jesus stood shoulder to shoulder with sinners in the muddy waters of the Jordan, not because he was a sinner in need of salvation, but because he wanted to bring the divine love even to the darkest and most painful corners of human experience.” In our First Reading (one of the four “servant canticles” in Isaiah) we hear of this coming mission of Jesus: bring back and to heal those who are lost.

Today’s feast is also something of an annual reminder about the great sacrament of baptism that we have received. Perhaps at Mass this weekend, we might therefore renew our baptismal promises. Most of us do not remember our own baptism, or the promises made on our behalf when we were baptized because, of course, we were just a little baby when it happened; although perhaps we have had the joy of being present at a baptism recently. It is good to remember all the wonderful gifts that the sacrament of baptism brings to those who receive it: new life and a washing clean of all sin, adoption as sons or daughters of God through Jesus Christ, the light of Christ to guide us, entrance into the community of the Church to name but a few. Once again, we might say that these are all great gifts that come from God’s love and mercy for us. May we renew our sense of using these amazing gifts in love of God and of our neighbors.

Returning to our Gospel reading for today, there is one other important gift we have received in the sacrament of baptism: that is of living as true disciples of Jesus Christ and sharing our faith with others. In the Gospel, a voice is heard from heaven and God designates Jesus as His “beloved Son”. In a way, Jesus receives a call from God and a mission and after this event at the Jordan River, Jesus begins his public ministry.

So too with us when we were baptized. The very first thing that happens in the Rite of Baptism is that the parents are asked: “what name do you give your child?” This is a very significant and symbolic moment. Giving a name gives an identity to a person and also a purpose. When the person being baptized is “named” it means that God will know them by that name and call them by that name for the rest of their lives. We received that naming and purpose when we were baptized…let us live up to that name by which God knows us and calls us!

This living up to our Baptismal promises is very much at the heart of our faith. It is significant that at major moments of the Church’s year such as Easter, we renew the promises made when we were baptized. As a new year has begun and we hurtle towards the holy season of Lent (it will be here before we know it!), perhaps we can pray for especially all those who will baptized in our parishes this year.

One final thought. We have the custom of blessing ourselves with holy water as we enter or leave the church: we do this almost instinctively or automatically. On this feast day of the Baptism of the Lord, it is good to remember why we do this. It is actually a ritual reminder of our baptism and of the promises of the sacrament that we try to follow and to live, not just when we gather in the church, but when we leave to go about our lives. So, as we bless ourselves with holy water, why not also say a short prayer, or make a promise, that we will live up to our name and our calling received when we were baptized. Let us also pray that just as we have received so many gifts of mercy, we will also be merciful to others.

Very Rev. Anthony M. Barratt, STL, PhD, VF, ChM