Study and Meditations on this Sunday's Scripture Readings: January 9, 2011

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Other thoughts and comments on the Gospel Reading:

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee: Nazareth was a town of Galilee, and there Christ had lived as a humble carpenter for nearly thirty years. He had given no indication of what he truly was, except for his devout life of obedience to God’s law and to his parents. A rabbi, or teacher of religion, had to have reached full manhood according to the Jewish custom before he was allowed to teach. Jesus obeyed this custom, even though he could have begun to teach as early as the age of twelve, as we know from the incident in the temple related by St. Luke (2: 41-48). He faithfully obeyed all the legitimate customs of his fellow-Jews of the time.

to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him: Jesus makes it a point to go to the Jordan to be baptized by John—it is not by accident or a spur of the moment decision.

**14 John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”

15 Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him:** Jesus is sinless and has no need for John’s baptism (Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22). He nevertheless submits to the rite to identify with sinners and align himself with God’s plan. Jesus performs Old Covenant regulations to fulfill and perfect them in the New (5:17; cf. Lk 2:21-28; CCC 536).

16 After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water: ** This has been interpreted by some of our separated brethren to mean that Jesus was fully immersed during His baptism. But in fact, 2nd century frescoes depicting Jesus’ baptism by John show Him standing in ankle deep water and having the water poured over His head. One can “come up from” the water when wading at the beach, without ever having been immersed.
**
and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him: This *theophany *(manifestation of the Holy Trinity) was for the benefit of the observers. Jesus possessed the fullness of the Holy Spirit from the moment of His conception. Catholic teaching says that in Christ there is only one person (who is divine) but two natures which are divine and human. This teaching is called the dogma of the hypostatic union. The descent of the Holy Spirit signifies the beginning of the work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus as He begins His public ministry. Besides signifying the Spirit, the dove is also seen as a figure for Israel as God’s chosen people in Song of Songs (1:15; 2:14; 4:1; 5:2; 6:9). In this way, we can see the presence of the dove at Jesus’ baptism as a symbol of the New Israel, the new people of God for whom Jesus’ saving ministry will be exercised.

17 And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”: This harkens back to our first reading (Isaiah 42:1) and looks forward to the Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-8). As if to affirm Jesus’ identity and His mission, the voice from heaven speaks. Literally, it is the bat gol (daughter of a voice) which is frequently mentioned in rabbinic literature as the means of revelation granted after all prophecy had ceased.

The mystery of the Holy Trinity is revealed in the baptism of Jesus: the Son is baptized; the Holy Spirit descends on Him in the form of a dove; and the voice of the Father gives testimony about His Son. Christians must be baptized in the name of the three divine persons (Matthew 28:19). Then, as St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 386) writes “If you have sincere piety, the Holy Spirit will descend on you also and you will hear the voice of the Father saying to you from above: ‘This was not my son, but now after Baptism he has been made my son.’”

 

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Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs referencing Matthew 3:13-17:

**444 **The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the Transfiguration of Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus his “beloved Son”.53 Jesus calls himself the “only Son of God”, and by this title affirms his eternal pre-existence.54 He asks for faith in “the name of the only Son of God”.55 In the centurion’s exclamation before the crucified Christ, “Truly this man was the Son of God”,56 that Christian confession is already heard. Only in the Paschal mystery can the believer give the title “Son of God” its full meaning.

53. Cf. Mt 3:17; cf. 17:5.

54. Jn 3:16; cf. 10:36.

55. Jn 3:18.

56. Mk 15:39.

**THE MYSTERIES OF JESUS’ PUBLIC LIFE

The baptism of Jesus

535** Jesus’ public life begins with his baptism by John in the Jordan.228 John preaches “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.229 A crowd of sinners230 - tax collectors and soldiers, Pharisees and Sadducees, and prostitutes- come to be baptized by him. “Then Jesus appears.” The Baptist hesitates, but Jesus insists and receives baptism. Then the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes upon Jesus and a voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son."231 This is the manifestation (“Epiphany”) of Jesus as Messiah of Israel and Son of God.

228. Cf. Lk 3:23; Acts 1:22.

229. Lk 3:3.

230. Cf. Lk 3:10-14; Mt 3:7; 21:32.

231. Mt 3:13-17.

**536 **The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.232 Already he is anticipating the “baptism” of his bloody death.233 Already he is coming to “fulfill all righteousness”, that is, he is submitting himself entirely to his Father’s will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins.234 The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son.235 The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to “rest on him”.236 Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism "the heavens were opened"237 - the heavens that Adam’s sin had closed - and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.

232. Jn 1:29; cf. Isa 53:12.

233. Cf. Mk 10:38; Lk 12:50.

234. Mt 3:15; cf. 26:39.

235. Cf. Lk 3:22; Isa 42:1.

236. Jn 1:32-33; cf. Isa 11:2.

237. Mt 3:16.

Concluded on the next post…

 

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**“The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world”

608** After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.422 By doing so, he reveals that Jesus is at the same time the suffering Servant who silently allows himself to be led to the slaughter and who bears the sin of the multitudes, and also the Paschal Lamb, the symbol of Israel’s redemption at the first Passover.423 Christ’s whole life expresses his mission: "to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."424

422. Jn 1:29; cf. Lk 3:21; Mt 3:14-15; Jn 1:36.

423. Isa 53:7,12; cf. Jer 11:19; Ex 12:3-14; Jn 19:36; 1 Cor 5:7.

424. Mk 10:45.

701 The dove. At the end of the flood, whose symbolism refers to Baptism, a dove released by Noah returns with a fresh olive-tree branch in its beak as a sign that the earth was again habitable.58 When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him.59 The Spirit comes down and remains in the purified hearts of the baptized. In certain churches, the Eucharist is reserved in a metal receptacle in the form of a dove (columbarium) suspended above the altar. Christian iconography traditionally uses a dove to suggest the Spirit.

58. Cf. Gen 8:8-12.

59. Cf. Mt 3:16 and parallels.

713 The Messiah’s characteristics are revealed above all in the "Servant songs."82 These songs proclaim the meaning of Jesus’ Passion and show how he will pour out the Holy Spirit to give life to the many: not as an outsider, but by embracing our "form as slave."83 Taking our death upon himself, he can communicate to us his own Spirit of life.

82. Cf. Isa 42:1-9; cf. Mt 12:18-21; Jn 1:32-34; then cf. Isa 49:1-6; cf. Mt 3:17; Lk 2:32; finally cf. Isa 50:4-10 and Isa 52:13-53:12.

83. Phil 2:7.

**Christ’s Baptism

1223** All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan.17 After his resurrection Christ gives this mission to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."18

17. Cf. Mt 3:13.

18. Mt 28:19-20; cf. Mk 16:15-16.

1224 Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness."19 Jesus’ gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying.20 The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as his "beloved Son."21

19. Mt 3:15.

20. Cf. Phil 2:7.

21. Mt 3:16-17.

**CONFIRMATION IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION

1286** In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission.91 The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God.92 He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; his whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him "without measure."93

91. Cf. Isa 11:2; 61:1; Lk 4:16-22.

92. Cf. Mt 3:13-17; Jn 1:33-34.

93. Jn 3:34.

 

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Questions of the Gospel Reading for personal study and reflection:

* Why did Jesus, who was without sin, come to John to be baptized? What “righteousness” did he fulfill (see Isaiah 53:12)? What do you think verse 17 meant to Jesus? How does this set the stage for his ministry to begin?

* Why did God choose this time to announce the presence of his Son (Luke 3:16-18; Acts 10:36)? Why was it necessary to be audible (John 11:41-42)?

* What kind of righteousness does God have in mind for you? What does he want the outcome of your life to be?

* How has God affirmed you as his child in Christ?

 

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A reflection on the Gospel Reading for practical application from Catholic Matters:

APPLICATION: Christ, our beloved Savior, began his messianic mission, the mission of enabling the whole human race to be sons of God and heirs of heaven, with an act of self-humiliation. He insisted on going through John’s baptismal rite, which was only for sinners, even though he had no sin to repent of. He did this, firstly, because he was the representative of all sinners, and had come “to take away the sin of the world,” and secondly, in order to set sinners of all time an example of true humility and true repentance.

During the Christmastide just ended, the Sunday lessons from holy Scripture have reminded us, again and again, of the humiliations Christ endured on earth for our sakes. The greatest of these, of course, was the Incarnation, God taking the nature of man, the Creator becoming a creature, the master making himself a slave. Add to this, the reception he got when he came among us, his birth in a stable, his cradle a manger, his forced flight into Egypt, his life of poverty in the despised town of Nazareth, where he earned his meager livelihood by the sweat of his brow like the most ordinary of men.

All this was for me and for you! He suffered all of this, and much more, notwithstanding the fact that, as God, he foresaw the ingratitude he would receive in return, from the vast majority of those for whom he suffered. All of us here today, you and I, have shown him our share of this ingratitude. We have not only forgotten to thank him, but we have positively offended him by our sins. We have grumbled and complained, and perhaps openly rebelled, when he asked us to follow him on the path of humiliation and suffering, which he trod before us for our sakes.

What human benefactor, what fellow man, who had put himself to great inconvenience, and caused himself humiliation and personal suffering in order to help us, would not wash his hands of us, forever, if our return was forgetfulness, thanklessness, ingratitude and even insult, in return for all he had done for us? And could we blame him? But God is not a human benefactor. His love, his mercy, his understanding and sympathy, are not finite and limited like those of men. His love is for sinners, as well as for saints. It is reaching out to us every day and every hour of the day recalling us to a sense of duty, a sense of gratitude, and indeed a sense of self-interest in our eternal welfare.

Meditate for a few moments today on the lesson of this Gospel reading. Think of the magnitude of the humiliations and the sufferings that Christ, God’s Son, endured in order that you could have eternal happiness. Your own earthly troubles, your worldly aches and pains, will then appear small in comparison. Instead of upbraiding God for letting them happen to you, you will welcome them as his means of making you more like his beloved Son, and so more worthy to be among the brothers of Christ who will share his heaven with him for all eternity.

 

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From Daily Scripture Readings & Meditations:

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased"

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17

• 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”*

**Meditation: **John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3). Why did Jesus, the Sinless One, submit himself to John’s baptism? In this humble submission we see a foreshadowing of the “baptism” of his bloody death upon the cross. Jesus’ baptism is the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allowed himself to be numbered among sinners. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father’s will. Out of love he consented to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of trust and submission to God?

The Father proclaimed his entire delight in his Son and spoke audibly for all to hear. The Holy Spirit, too, was present as he anointed Jesus for his ministry which began that day as he rose from the waters of the Jordan river. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all who come to believe in him. At his baptism the heavens were opened and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, signifying the beginning of a new creation.

How can we enter into the mystery of Jesus’ humble self-abasement and baptism? Gregory of Nazianzus, a seventh century Church father tells us: “Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to be glorified with him." Do you want to see changes in your life? And do you want to become a more effective instrument of the gospel? Examine Jesus’ humility and ask the Holy Spirit to forge this same attitude in your heart. As you do, heaven will open for you as well. The Lord is ever ready to renew us in his Spirit and to anoint us for mission. We are called to be “light” and “salt” to those around us. The Lord wants his love and truth to shine through us that others may see the goodness and truth of God’s message of salvation. Ask the Lord to fill you with his Holy Spirit that you may radiate the joy of the gospel to those around you.

“Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and inflame my heart with the joy of the gospel. May I find joy in seeking to please you just as you found joy in seeking to please your Father”.

 

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A meditation of the readings from Dr. Scott Hahn at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology:

Anointed Ones

Readings:
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10
Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus presents himself for John’s baptism in today’s Gospel, not because He is a sinner, but to fulfill the word of God proclaimed by His prophets. He must be baptized to reveal that He is the Christ (“anointed one”) - the Spirit-endowed Servant promised by Isaiah in today’s First Reading.

His baptism marks the start of a new world, a new creation. As Isaiah prophesied, the Spirit descends upon Jesus like a dove - as the Spirit hovered over the face of the deep in the beginning (see Genesis 1:2).

As it was in the beginning, at the Jordan also the majestic voice of the Lord thunders above the waters. The Father opens the heavens and declares Jesus to be His “beloved son.”

God had long prepared the Israelites for His coming, as Peter preaches in today’s Second Reading. Jesus was anticipated in the “beloved son” given to Abraham (see Genesis 22:2,12,26), and in the calling of Israel as His “first-born son” (see Exodus 4:22-23). Jesus is the divine son begotten by God, the everlasting heir promised to King David (see Psalm 2:7; 2 Samuel 7:14).

He is “a covenant of the people [Israel]” and “a light to the nations,” Isaiah says. By the new covenant made in His blood (see 1 Corinthians 11:25), God has gathered the lost sheep of Israel together with whoever fears Him in every nation.

Christ has become the source from which God pours out his Spirit on Israelites and Gentiles alike (see Acts 10:45). In Baptism, all are anointed with that same Spirit, made beloved sons and daughters of God. Indeed, we are Christians - literally “anointed ones.”

We are the “sons of God” in today’s Psalm - called to give glory to His name in His temple. Let us pray that we remain faithful to our calling as His children, that our Father might call us what he calls His Son - “my beloved. . . in whom I am well pleased.”

 

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Baptism Makes Us Members of the Family of Jesus
Biblical Reflection for Baptism of the Lord, Year A
By Father Thomas Rosica, CSB

Salt and Light Television (my other life!) recently produced a magnificent documentary titled “Within Your Gates,” which details Benedict XVI’s historic pilgrimage to Jordan and Israel in 2009. Among the moving scenes in the film are those of the Holy Father’s visit, along with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his wife, Queen Rania, to what is strongly believed to be the baptismal site of Jesus at the Jordan River in Jordan. As I reviewed all the footage and listened closely to the Pope’s moving homily at the Jordan River, I could not think of more fitting way to prepare for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord that we celebrate today.

Benedict XVI reflected on the Jesus’ baptism, which he described as being “brought vividly before us in this place.” The Pope said: "Jesus stood in line with sinners and accepted John’s baptism of penance as a prophetic sign of his own passion, death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. Down through the centuries, many pilgrims have come to the Jordan to seek purification, renew their faith and draw closer to the Lord. Such was the pilgrim Egeria, who left a written account of her visit during the late fourth century.
*
“The sacrament of baptism, drawing its power from Christ’s death and resurrection, will be cherished especially by the Christian communities that gather in the new church buildings. May the Jordan always remind you that you have been washed in the waters of baptism and have become members of the family of Jesus. Your lives, in obedience to his word, are being transformed into his image and likeness. As you strive to be faithful to your baptismal commitment of conversion, witness and mission, know that you are being strengthened by the gift of the Holy Spirit.”*

Scriptural insights

Three rich Scripture readings are spread before us for the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Each reading gives us some profound insights into the baptism of Jesus and our own baptism.

Today’s first reading from Isaiah’s second “Suffering Servant Song” (42:1-4, 6-7) introduces us to the Suffering Servant of the Lord who lives in union, communion and sympathy with the entire human family. The Lord has chosen a special servant to be and to show the divine glory in the world. The striking fact about Isaiah 42:1-9 is that the Servant is never clearly identified. What is emphasized is the activity and character of the Servant. This servant was chosen by God; he was given God’s Spirit, so he would bring justice to everyone, Jew and foreigner alike. For the society of the time, the servant would be counter-cultural; he would not be interested in fame or power. But his rule would be gentle but would be sure. His rule would precede his teaching to the coastlands, areas west (the Mediterranean world) and south (along the Red Sea).

Isaiah 42:1-4 reminds the people of God to be humble since they are not God’s sole agents of justice and righteousness. In some cases God may be accomplishing his plans for his people through the nations (e.g., 44:28). In verses 6-7, God, himself, commissioned the Servant. God called the servant to justice and to act as his own representative. The Servant would give the blind sight and prisoners freedom. These images of sight and liberation could be taken literally or figuratively. At the time of Second Isaiah, the ruling elite of Judea were captives held by the blind ambition of foreign dictators. In a figurative sense, the blindness and imprisonment could be the people’s lack of faith. In either case, the Servant would be God’s instrument of healing, wholeness and liberation.

Deep goodness

The extraordinary story of Cornelius’ conversion in today’s second reading (Acts 10:34-38) certainly sheds light on the meaning and implications of baptism. It is the longest individual narrative in the Acts of the Apostles. The theme of this narrative is divine compulsion: Peter is the least prepared to accept Cornelius into the Christian community and he even refuses to admit him two times. Peter had to be converted before he could convert Cornelius. Peter came to the realization that God’s gifts were given to all those who listened to the Word of God. His question “Can anyone forbid water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (10:47) echoes the Ethiopian’s question and Philip’s response in the earlier story: “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” (8:36)?

Peter’s actions with Cornelius had far-reaching implications. Struck at once with the exceptional sincerity, hospitality and deep goodness of Cornelius and his household, Peter spontaneously exclaimed: “God has made it clear to me that no one should call anyone unclean or impure… God shows no partiality.” That statement broke centuries of customs and even of theology, that Israel, alone was God’s chosen people, separated from all other nations as God’s very own (cf. Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Exodus 19:5-6). Peter had no choice but to baptize the household of Cornelius and he was criticized for his ‘ecumenical’ approach but responded to his critics: “Who am I that I could withstand God” (11:17)? When his critics heard these words, they were silenced and began to glorify God (11:18).

Paul, too, found the same spontaneous manifestation of the faith among the gentiles and so made the exciting declaration: “We now turn to the Gentiles!” The controversy over the law was to linger for a long time, so that Paul dedicated to this topic his most comprehensive theological work: the letter to the Romans.

Continued on the next post:

 

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Messianic Vocation

The Gospel reading for this feast, Matthew 3:13-17, contains echoes of Isaiah 42. Jesus’ anointing by the Spirit of God (3:16) and recalls the Lord God’s declaration in 42:1, “I have put my spirit on him.” The affirmation of Jesus as God’s “Beloved, with whom (he is) well pleased” (3:17) evokes God’s designation of his Servant as “(his) chosen, in whom (his) soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1). The commissioning of Jesus to a vocation of Servanthood at his Baptism indicates this new age has begun.

In Matthew’s baptism scene, we catch a glimpse of not only the intimate relationship between Father and Son but also the consequences of that relationship. The private believer is a public servant. According to Matthew, when Jesus rises, dripping, from the waters of the Jordan, John has moved on to the next baptism and the crowds are busy with repentance. Jesus alone sees the Spirit descending on wings of light to rest upon his soggy head. Jesus alone hears the well-pleased voice of God calling him “Beloved Son.” The experience drives him out alone into the desert for 40 days to hone his calling. No wonder that when he returns to begin his ministry, one of his first actions is to call disciples. Enough solitude already! It’s time for company!

Sacraments of initiation

In receiving the life of Christ in baptism, we Christians are also called upon to sustain the life of the Church. Baptism is truly a leap into the mystery of Jesus, a leap and an immersion that transform us fully into his likeness. Like the Servant in today’s reading from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7), we are to replace darkness with light. Like the Servant in Matthew, we are to replace pain with healing. Far from being purely a private gift, faith is a public responsibility. We must stand up and take our rightful place in the Church. Our sharing in the Eucharist bonds us together with our brothers and sisters who have been immersed into the life of Christ through the waters of baptism.

As the New Year begins, we need sight to see beyond our limitations and freedom from our self-imposed faults. Our relationship with God helps us to see beyond the little worlds in which we live. How does God help us to see the possibilities? How does faith in Christ help lift us up and radically change us? Let us pray that the grace of our own baptism will help us to be light to others and to the world, and give us the strength and courage to make a difference, to be counted among the family and friends of Jesus.

Responsibility for the proclamation of the Gospel

As we continue our reflection on Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Exhortation “Verbum Domini” that followed the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church we read in paragraph #94 that all the baptized are responsible for the proclamation of the Gospel.

*"Since the entire People of God is a people which has been “sent”, the Synod reaffirmed that “the mission of proclaiming the word of God is the task of all of the disciples of Jesus Christ based on their Baptism”. No believer in Christ can feel dispensed from this responsibility which comes from the fact of our sacramentally belonging to the Body of Christ. A consciousness of this must be revived in every family, parish, community, association and ecclesial movement. The Church, as a mystery of communion, is thus entirely missionary, and everyone, according to his or her proper state in life, is called to give an incisive contribution to the proclamation of Christ. Bishops and priests, in accordance with their specific mission, are the first to be called to live a life completely at the service of the word, to proclaim the Gospel, to celebrate the sacraments and to form the faithful in the authentic knowledge of Scripture. Deacons too must feel themselves called to cooperate, in accordance with their specific mission, in this task of evangelization.

Throughout the Church’s history the consecrated life has been outstanding for explicitly taking up the task of proclaiming and preaching the word of God in the ‘missio ad gentes’ and in the most difficult situations, for being ever ready to adapt to new situations and for setting out courageously and boldly along fresh paths in meeting new challenges for the effective proclamation of God’s word.

The laity are called to exercise their own prophetic role, which derives directly from their Baptism, and to bear witness to the Gospel in daily life, wherever they find themselves. In this regard the Synod Fathers expressed “the greatest esteem, gratitude and encouragement for the service to evangelization which so many of the lay faithful, and women in particular, provide with generosity and commitment in their communities throughout the world, following the example of Mary Magdalene, the first witness of the joy of Easter”. The Synod also recognized with gratitude that the ecclesial movements and the new communities are a great force for evangelization in our times and an incentive to the development of new ways of proclaiming the Gospel."*

 

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GOSPEL COMMENTARY MT 3:13-17
Resisting God
Fr. Paul Scalia

When Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized, John “tried to prevent him” (Mt 3:14). Only upon Our Lord’s insistence — “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:15) — does John concede and baptize Him. It seems a curious thing, to prevent the Lord from His mission. But in fact we make the same error quite often. So an appreciation of the drama at the Jordan can help us understand and avoid that mistake.

John resists for obvious reasons. First, he recognizes Jesus’ divinity and knows he is unworthy to baptize Him. Further, the whole purpose of John’s baptism is not worthy of Our Lord. It was a “baptism of repentance” (cf. Mk 1:4; Acts 19:4). Those baptized by John confessed their sins as they were immersed in the Jordan. The immersion was a sign of dying to one way of life, of being purified and then rising to a new way of life. John knew that Our Lord had no sins to confess, nothing to repent of and no need to change His life. So, naturally, he hesitates to baptize Our Lord. But there is something still deeper at play in this scene.

By submitting to the baptism of John — the baptism of repentance — Jesus identifies Himself with sinners. He steps into their place. He so identifies with those needing to repent that He becomes — in a sense – a “sinner” Himself. St. Paul says that God “made Him to be sin who did not know sin” (2 Cor 5:21). This happens ultimately on the cross. But it begins here. His Baptism — when He assumes the place of sinners — is an anticipation of the cross.

At Christmas we celebrate Christ’s humility as He is born an infant. At His baptism we celebrate an even deeper humility as He assumes our sins. What we see in John’s reaction, then, is a hesitancy to allow God to assume the effects of sin. It is a discomfort with God’s humility. It resembles Peter’s reaction when our Lord predicts His passion (“God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you” (Mt 16:22)) and when He washes the apostles’ feet (“You will never wash my feet” (Jn 13:8)).

John’s reaction is reasonable and even, to a certain extent, noble (as was Peter’s). He does not want to associate Jesus with sin, guilt or shame in any way. But he must — “to fulfill all righteousness” (Mt 3:15). John does give in to Our Lord’s purpose, of course. He recognizes that Jesus has come to take sin upon Himself. He baptizes Him and proclaims Him to be “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29).

We make the same mistake as John every time we refuse to bring our sin, guilt and shame to Jesus. Whether out of pride (I do not want Him to see me this way) or misplaced devotion (I do not want Jesus to suffer) we refuse to give Him the very thing He wants: our sins and their effects. We resist, as did John, to place guilt upon Him. But to fulfill all righteousness — that is, to realize the plan of God — we must give Him what He has come to take. We cannot confess Him as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” if we refuse to give Him our sins.

In private prayer, then, we can imagine ourselves “baptizing” Our Lord — placing our sins, our guilt and our shame upon Him. In the sacrament of penance we definitively place our sins upon Him, who alone can free us from them. Only He can take them away. If we keep them to ourselves they only bring suffering and death. When we place them upon Him we find health and life.

*Fr. Scalia is pastor of St. John the Beloved Parish in McLean [Virginia]. *

 

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The Bountiful Blessings of Baptism: A Meditation on the Baptism of the Lord.
By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a moment to reflect not only on the Lord’s baptism, but also on our own. For in an extended sense, when Christ is baptized, so are we, for we are members of his body. As Christ enters the water, he makes holy the water that will baptize us. He enters the water and we follow. And in these waters he acquires gifts to give us, as we shall see below.

Let’s examine this text in three stages:

** 1. The Fraternity of Baptism –** The text says *Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” *

John is surely puzzled about Jesus requesting baptism. And likely so are we. Why? John’s baptism of repentance presumes the presence of sin. But the scriptures are clear, Jesus had no sin.

• 1. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15 ).

1. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin (1 John 3:5 ).*

So why does Jesus ask for baptism? He will answer this in a moment.

But first let’s consider this dramatic fact: Jesus identifies with sinners, even if he never sinned. As he comes to the riverside he has no ego concerns. He is not embarrassed or ashamed that some might think him a sinner even though he was not. It is a remarkable humiliation he accepts to be found in the company of sinners like us, and even to be seen as one of us. He freely enters the waters and, to any outsider who knew him not, he would simply be numbered among the sinners, which he was not.

Continued on the next post…

 

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Consider how amazing this is. The Scripture says He is not ashamed to call us his Brethren (Heb 2:11). It also says * God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God *(2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus ate with sinners to the scandal of many of the religious leaders: -*This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” *(Lk 15:2). Jesus was known as a friend of sinners, had pity on the woman caught in adultery, allowed a sinful woman to touch him and anoint his feet. He cast out demons and fought for sinners. He suffered and died for sinners in the way reserved for the worst criminals. He was crucified between two thieves and He was assigned a grave among the wicked (Is 53).

Praise God, Jesus is not ashamed to be found in our presence and to share a brotherhood with us. There is a great shedding of his glory in doing this. Again, Scripture says,* [Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself *(Phil 1:3)

2. The Fulfillment of Baptism – The text says: Jesus said to [John] in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.

The Fathers of the Church are of varying opinions as exactly what Christ means by fulfilling all righteousness.

1. Chromatius links the righteousness to all the sacraments and the salvation they confer: “This is true righteousness, that the Lord and Master should fulfill in himself every sacrament of our salvation. Therefore the Lord did not want to be baptized for his own sake but for ours” (tractate on Matthew 13.2)
2. **Chrysostom **links it to the end and fulfillment of the Old Covenant: He is in effect saying, Since then we have performed all the rest of the commandments, this Baptism alone remains. I have come to do away with the curse that is appointed for the transgression of the Law. So I must therefore fulfill it all and, having delivered you from its condemnation, bringing it to an end. (Homily on Matt 12.1)
3. Theodore of Mopsuestia sees Christ to mean that he is perfecting John’s Baptism which was only a symbol of the true Baptism. 'The Baptism of John…was perfect according to the precept of Law, but it was imperfect in that it did not supply remission of sin but merely made people fit of receiving the perfect one….And Jesus makes this clear saying, ‘For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ (Fragment 13).

From another perspective, the word “righteousness” refers, biblically, to God’s fidelity to his promises. Thus, is this sense, Jesus would mean that his baptism would be the sign of the fulfillment of God’s righteous promise of salvation. God had promised this and God is faithful to his promises. Jesus’ baptism indicates this. How?

Continued on the next post…

 

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St. Maximus of Turin speaks of the Old Testament prefigurement of baptism at the Red sea and then shows how Christ fulfills it:

• I understand the mystery as this. The column of fire went before the sons of Israel through the Red Sea so that they could follow on their brave journey; the column went first through the waters to prepare a path for those who followed……But Christ the Lord does all these things: in the column of fire He went through the sea before the sons of Israel; so now in the column of his body he goes through baptism before the Christian people….At the time of the Exodus the column…made a pathway through the waters; now it strengthens the footsteps of faith in the bath of baptism.* (de sancta Epiphania 1.3)

So what God promised in the in the Old Testament by way of prefigurement he now fulfils in Christ. They were delivered from the slavery of Egypt as the column led them through the waters. But more wonderfully, we are delivered from the slavery to sin as the column of Christ’s body leads us through the waters of baptism. God’s righteousness is his fidelity to his promises. Hence Jesus says, in his baptism and all it signifies (his death and resurrection) he has come to fulfill all righteous and he thus fulfills the promises made by God at the Red Sea and throughout the Old Testament.

** 3. The Four Gifts of Baptism **- The Text says, *After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.“ *

Eph 5:30 says we are members of Christ’s body. Thus when Jesus goes into the water we go with him. And in going there he acquires four gifts on our behalf as this text sets them forth. Lets look at the four gifts he acquires on our behalf:

** 1. Access - the heavens are opened .** The heavens and paradise had been closed to us after Original Sin. But now, at Jesus’ baptism, the text says the heavens are opened. Jesus acquires this gift for us. So, at our baptism, the heavens open for us and we have access to the Father and to the heavenly places. Scripture says:* Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, (Romans 5:1) It also says, For through Jesus we have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (Eph 2:17). Hence the heavens are opened also at our own Baptism and we have access to the Father.
** 2. Anointing - the Spirit of God descends on him like a dove – Here too, Jesus acquires the Gift of the Holy Spirit for us. In Baptism we are not just washed of sins, but we also become temples of the Holy Spirit. After baptism there is the anointing with chrism which signifies the presence of the Holy Spirit. For adults this is Confirmation. But even for infants, there is an anointing at baptism to recognize that the Spirit of God dwells in the baptized as in a temple. Scripture says, Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? * (1 Cor 3:16)
** 3. Acknowledgment – this is my beloved Son. Jesus receives this acknowledgment from his Father for the faith of those who heard, but also to acquire this gift for us. In our own Baptism we become the children of God. Since we become members of Christ’s body, we now have the status of sons of God. On the day of your Baptism the heavenly Father acknowledged you as his own dear Child. Scripture says: You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal 3:26)
** 4. Approval – I am well pleased . Jesus had always pleased his Father. But now he acquires this gift for you as well. Our own Baptism gives us sanctifying grace. Sanctifying grace is the grace to be holy and pleasing to God. Scripture says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Eph 1:1-3)

Thus, at his Baptism, Christ acquired these gifts for us so that our own Baptism we could receive them. Consider well the glorious gift of your Baptism. Perhaps you know the exact day. It should be a day as highly celebrated as your birthday. Christ is baptized for our sakes, not his own. All these gifts had always been his. Now, in his baptism he fulfills God’s righteousness by going into the water to get them for you. It’s alright to say, “Hallelujah!”

 

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From The Word Among Us Magazine:

The Baptism of the Lord
*
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.* (Matthew 3:17)

What a scene this must have been! Opened heavens, a booming voice, and a dove descending upon Jesus. Clearly, God considered Jesus’ baptism to be a very important event, since he pulled out all the stops to celebrate it.

But more than just a celebration, Jesus’ baptism was a moment of revelation. On the banks of the Jordan River, the entire Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—revealed itself. Here, at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, God made himself known in a new and powerful way. By revealing himself as Trinity—something that not even faithful Jews had conceived as possible—God made it clear that something new was about to happen. The kingdom that Jesus was sent to inaugurate was not just a continuation of what had come before. God was up to something dramatic, and he wanted everyone to pay attention.

In this scene, we see each Person of the Trinity in action. Eager to “fulfill all righteousness,” Jesus willingly submits to baptism by John (Matthew 3:15). Speaking from heaven, the Father announces that he is “well pleased” with his Son (3:17). And the Holy Spirit rests on Jesus, setting him apart for his mission (3:16). All three Persons are united in love and they are united in their desire to bring about our salvation.

As united as the Persons of the Trinity are, God wants us to know that it is not an exclusive community. Every day, God invites us to enter into his life and join in his mission. And for that, we too need the anointing of the Holy Spirit—just as Jesus received. And we also need to know how much our Father loves us and is pleased with us—just as he told Jesus. And that makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, God’s deepest desire is that we all become like Jesus and keep building his kingdom!

“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I accept your invitation! I want to be part of your communion of love.”

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

1. In the first reading, Isaiah prophetically speaks of the coming of Christ, the chosen servant who is pleasing to God. It also speaks of his ministry “To open the eyes of the blind, bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” How do these works of Jesus apply to your life?

1. In the Responsorial Psalm, we are invited to give to the Lord “glory and praise” (Psalm 29:1). What are some reasons from your own life that lead you to give the Lord glory and praise?

1. In the second reading, through his visit to Cornelius’ home, God broke through Peter’s misconceptions and prejudices towards non-Jews to reveal to him that the gift of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was not for the Jewish people alone (as he had previously believed), but also for Gentiles as well. In the Church we see some of this in reverse now, that is, there are misconceptions and prejudices towards Jewish people. What are some of these prejudices? What steps you can take as Christians to help eradicate these prejudices and promote mutual understanding between Christians and Jews?

1. In the Gospel, God the Father speaks these words to Jesus: “This is my beloved son; with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Do you believe that in spite of your own sins and weaknesses that you too are a beloved son/daughter of your heavenly father? Why or why not?

1. Spend a few minutes in prayer and reflection and allow God the Father to speak these words to you: “You are my beloved son, you are my beloved daughter; with you I am well pleased.” What impact did this quiet time of reflection have on you?

1. The meditation ends with these words: “As united as the Persons of the Trinity are, God wants us to know that it is not an exclusive community. Every day, God invites us to enter into his life and join in his mission. And for that, we too need the anointing of the Holy Spirit&mdashjust as Jesus received. And we also need to know how much our Father loves us and is pleased with us&mdashjust as he told Jesus. And that makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, God’s deepest desire is that we all become like Jesus and keep building his kingdom!” Take some time now to pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit and that you would have a deeper experience of the Father’s great love for you. Also pray that you would be transformed more and more into the image and likeness of Jesus and be used in building his kingdom.

 

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Catena Aurea - The Golden Chain
Of St. Thomas Aquinas

The Golden Chain is a commentary on of the Gospels by the Early Church Fathers compiled together.

The Catena Aurea on Matthew 3 (sorry, too lengthy to post)

 

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From EWTN News: Pope Benedict encourages faithful to resdiscover joy of baptism:

The gift of faith is the “most beautiful reason to live,” said Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Faith is sought through baptism and brought to maturity within the Church community, he added.

The Pope celebrated Sunday’s feast with a rare Mass in the Sistine Chapel followed by the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square. During the celebration of the Mass, which has become a tradition in the Vatican every Jan. 9, he baptized 21 children.

With baptism, he said during his homily, the child is inserted into the “mutual exchange of love” between God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

“The love of God is poured out over them, inundating them with his gifts.”

The Pope told the parents that in the sacrament their children join in the life of Christ, who was crucified to free man from sin and resurrected to conquer death. They are thus “immersed spiritually in His death and resurrection” and “freed from original sin and a life of grace begins in them, which is the very life of the Risen Jesus,” he said.

The parents and godparents ask the Church to pass on the gift of faith, “that which is most precious in life, and that is the truest and most beautiful reason to live,” he explained.

He explained that through baptism, children are consecrated and called to follow the Lord and to realize the vocation he has for them. Education in the faith is important, he told parents and godparents, so that “the seed of faith that they receive today will grow in them and they might reach full Christian maturity.”

During the Angelus that followed in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI explained that through Christ’s own Baptism by John the Baptist, he "established the regeneration in the Spirit and opened, to all who want it, the opportunity to become children of God.

“Not by chance, in fact, every baptized person acquires the character of ‘son’ starting with their Christian name, an unmistakable sign that the Holy Spirit gives birth 'anew ’ to man from the womb of the Church.”

Blessed Antonio Rosmini wrote that man is “raised to the supernatural order” through the sacrament, thus renewing his communication with God, noted the Pope.

Baptism marks the beginning of the spiritual life that finds fulfillment in the Church. The community welcomes the child and entrusts him to God and parents and godparents commit themselves to the child’s Christian formation and education.

“This is a great responsibility that comes from a great gift!” said Pope Benedict.

With those words, he encouraged all Christians “to rediscover the beauty of being baptized and to give joyful witness of their faith, so that it may generate fruits of good and harmony.”