BAPTISM OF THE LORD

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Cycle “A”

We are so familiar with the story of Jesus’ baptism that it is hard to think of him starting his ministry in any other way. He could have succumbed to the devil’s temptation in the desert and immediately risen to fame by trotting out sensational miracles, or he could have exerted the power of his personality among the leaders of the nation. Usually, people in the world, especially politicians, want to start their careers with attention-grabbing headlines. Films stars have got used to having a crazy crowd following them, and they can be devastated if they are not taken notice of. But our dear Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, deliberately chose to be one of the crowd of penitents, waist-deep in the Jordan. (Quite a dirty river, I must tell you). He mingled with those who were humbly presenting themselves for baptism, forgiveness and cleansing.

You must have, of late, read or heard about the Harry Potter novels written by J. W. Rowling. The stories are a great hit with young readers who identify with the schoolboy Harry and his schoolmates, because Harry and friends want to escape from the straitjacket of adult discipline and religious conformity. They want their own way to freedom, and their own way to fight evil. Harry Potter finally has to fight against the sinister Lord Voldemort, an arch-wizard, bent on global domination. Young Harry and friends don’t mind making use of sorcery and magical animals in their fight, which is why certain religious people have condemned the books. Actually Harry and friends want to save the world, even if it entails turning it upside down. It is essentially their youthful joy of life, “joie de vivre”, against the controlling mind of the overbearing adult, white magic against black, good against evil  -  and guess who wins in the end.

Children have an entirely healthy desire to turn the world upside down. And this desire is an echo of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Like Jesus, the young Harry Potter rejects totally all worldly power and success. Here is an echo of Jesus’ option to join the sinners in the Jordan, standing in solidarity with their alienation, their disappointment with themselves, their moral confusion and sinful shame; and there in the mess he was recognised by the Father very pleased with his beloved Son. This is followed immediately by Jesus’ rejection of both political and religious power in the desert, and finally his rejecting of the use of force at Gethsemane and as he stood before the powers that were, Pontius Pilate and the mad king, Herod. He could have smashed them with an act of his will, but he preferred to remain the Suffering Servant, making way for the Father to take over.

 My dear friends, in a world that is still reeling from global terrorism and the shock of the horrific events of 11^th. September  -  a dark day for humanity  -  we need to look and learn from Jesus in the Jordan. There we see penitence, reconcilement and godly happiness. This is a far cry from worldly power and intimidation. There is no foundation for terrorism in the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths; and revenge will only allow the perpetrators to set the moral tone of the world’s agenda. This is not to extol the agents of violence and murder, since they must be brought to justice. At the same time Pope John Paul II in his New Year message reminds us that forgiveness can co-exist with justice. Forgiveness can co-exist with justice.

May the light of Christ help us to expose the violence lurking within our own hearts with their prejudices, if any, and hopefully guide us and our world on a new journey of respectful tolerance and peace.

PRAYER (after the Chaldean Rite):

O Christ, you humbled yourself and received baptism at the hands of your friend and cousin, John, showing us the way of humility,

help us to follow you and never to be encumbered with pride.

O Christ, by your baptism, you took our humanity into the cleansing waters;

give us new birth, and lead us into life as sons and daughters of God.

O Christ, by your baptism the material world became charged with your holiness,

make us instruments of your transformation in this our world.

O Christ, by your baptism you revealed the Trinity, your Father calling you his beloved Son, and the Spirit descending upon you like a dove;

renew our worship, rededicate us in the spirit of our baptism, and mould us into our true nature, in the image of God.

For your love’s sake.