BAPTISM OF JESUS

BAPTISM OF JESUS

THE HOMILY     Let me begin by telling you the story of the Protestant pastor in England, the Rev. Potty Mcgoo. He wanted to improve the quality of the singing for the Sunday services. So he hired a luxury coach to bring the young people twice a week and drop them home after practice. This went on for a few weeks; but then the pastor suddenly decided to stop the whole thing. A parishioner asked him why. “Because,” explained the pastor, “these young people are belting out party songs on their way back, like ‘Roll out the barrel…the gang’s all here’”  “My dear pastor,” replied the parishioner, “what you should do is to get into the barrel yourself and sing along with them. When the gang sees that, they’ll sing better in church.”      So it was with Jesus who reached down and became one of the crowd in the Jordan. Perhaps there was some embarrassment of Jesus going needlessly down to the Jordan. Imagine him standing in line with those rogues and street women! But clearly it was the Father’s will that Jesus should share life with us. He proved true to his name – “Emmanuel” God with us. He reached down into our self-centredness and shame so that he could draw us out with him into a new beginning, empowered by the same Spirit that he received at his Baptism. Jesus’ logic was simple and honest. Since he had assumed humanity, he had taken on our sinful condition without, though, committing a personal sin. It’s like when you jump in to rescue somebody sinking in the mud, you’ve got to be ready to be muddied all over.

          So at his baptism Jesus foreshadowed the humiliation of his crucifixion. Removing his garments to step into the water, he was stripping himself of all divine prerogatives, humbly taking his place in the queue alongside mere mortals who truly need repentance and rebirth. There is a singularly unassuming quality about this “servant of Yahweh”. He is not preceded by fanfares or spectacular stunts of clowns and tumblers, and is soon launched into his mission – opening the eyes of the blind and setting captives free. How much we need to be healed of our blindness and set free from our sinful habits.         Today’s feast tells us that God can be found in the very darkness of our sinfulness. This is what we state in the profession of faith: “he descended into hell” – the hell of our sin and isolation. God will not allow the sinner to remain in his isolation; he will get to him even if it entails crucifixion.

          Unhappily we can get so familiar with God’s closeness to us that we can forget him or take him for granted. You want to hear about the absent-minded professor. This absent-minded professor came down for breakfast one morning and found the milk jug empty. Just then the doorbell rang. With milk on his mind, he got up and opened the door to see a middle-aged woman holding a bottle of milk. He looked at her and asked, “Do you come here often?” And she answered, “I’m your wife, you silly.” In a similar way we are preoccupied with small things and ignore God’s intimate presence to us.     There is no area in our lives that Jesus cannot engage with and heal. Jesus has the power to break the hold of anything that grips us. We can bring to him everything that is not yet in the light or that still holds us in bondage.

          Just visualise once again Jesus standing in solidarity with sinners in the Jordan. If we could begin to take on board the wonder of God’s solidarity with us we would see ourselves and our neighbours in a different light. The great spiritual writer, Thomas Merton, had such an experience. After spending many years in a strictly enclosed Trappist monastery, he had to go to Louisville. To his amazement he was overwhelmed by the goodness he saw in total strangers. He described them as walking around shining like the sun, seeing the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes. If only they could see themselves as they really are. If we could see others that way all the time, there would be no more war, hatred, cruelty and greed. We would mysteriously hear God saying to each one: “You are my child, my beloved; my favour rests on you.” I’m sure that many of you have heard that voice some time or other in your life.

PRAYER 

Lord Jesus, by plunging into the Jordan waters you have made the waters of the earth baptismally clean. By your solidarity with us sinners, raise us to the level of your grace and holiness. Jesus, we acknowledge your authority and power over all areas of our life. Help us to link our lives with those who grieve about the injustice in human life; to break from the chains of past wrongs; to be ready to face your age, be renewed by your Spirit and anointed to preach the Good News to the poor, the oppressed and the prisoner. And bring us more fully into your life and truth. Amen.

BAPTISM OF THE LORD "A"

                                                           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.

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD JESUS

            Imagine someone lingering on death row, guilty of a heinous crime. The wheels are in motion to carry out the death penalty, but suddenly an innocent man steps forward and offers to take their place. Such a notion is shocking. The idea that an innocent man could identify with and ultimately become a substitute for a guilty one offends our sense of natural justice. The point is that the baptism of Jesus isn’t about natural justice, but God’s justice. Jesus’ baptism was a defining moment; immersed in the water of Jordan, he embraced his vocation. By accepting John’s baptism of repentance, Jesus is identifying himself with John’s movement of national repentance for unfaithfulness to the Covenant. Besides that, in Jesus’ baptism we are brought into the very heart of two profound mysteries of our faith: firstly, the depth of Jesus’ identification with the human race, and secondly, a revelation of the triune God. Today’s Gospel helps us marvel at God’s plan for our salvation.

            The baptism that Jesus received was one of repentance (Mark 1,4) which is why John tried to deter him   -  he was clearly shocked at the suggestion that Jesus should be baptised. But Jesus’ logic was simple and honest. Since he had assumed humanity he had taken on our sinful condition, without, though committing a personal sin. It’s like when you jump in to rescue somebody from sinking in the mud you’ve got to be ready to get muddied all over. He who had no sin had no need to repent. We can’t really understand what it would be like to be sinless. To be free of pride, jealousy, self-seeking and all the other pervasive drives inside us is something we cannot know. In fact, there is a human tendency that means that once conscious of any moral or spiritual strength we seek to elevate ourselves above our fellow human beings. We’re only deluding ourselves. For example, over the years I had read so many books on high spirituality and mysticism that I thought I was a mystic. But I discovered in a hurry that I was not a mystic but a mistake!

God’s love for us, however, is revealed by his desire to identify with us with all our failures and mistakes; and concentration on our failures may distract us from this tremendous truth that God is one with us in our very sinfulness. We heard that beautiful expression of the Heavenly Father: “My favour rests on him.” That expression comes from Isaiah 42.1 and refers to the suffering servant who, though innocent, has to bear the sins of his people. We see Jesus as the chosen, anointed one who, as a suffering Messiah, will free his people from their sins.

            Baptism gives us a share in the life of Christ so that we can begin to restore the image of God that we have tarnished to its original splendour. If we could begin to take on board the wonder of God’s solidarity with us and his invitation to all in Christ we would see ourselves and our neighbours in a different light. The great spiritual writer, Thomas Merton, had such an experience. After spending many years in a strictly enclosed Trappist monastery, he had to go to Louisville.

 To his amazement he was overwhelmed by the goodness in saw in total strangers. He described them as walking around shining like the sun, seeing the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes. If only they could all see themselves as they really are. If only we could see other that way all the time. There would be no more war, hatred, cruelty and greed. We would mysteriously hear God saying to each one: “you are my child, my beloved; my favour rests on you.” I’m sure that many of you here have heard that voice some time or other in your life.

As we begin our walk with God in 2011 we need to guard our hearts against certain attitudes that will keep us far from His heart. These include the mind of the proud who wants to know it all; the opinion of the critic who wants to judge it all; the attitude of the narcissist who wants to be it all; the desire of the covetous who wants to have it all.

Instead, walk with God in 2011 as a child. Never lose the simplicity of trust and the world of wonder that a child lives in from day to day. Walk with your eyes on your Father—happy in His presence, content in His care, awed by His greatness, delighted by His surprises, secure in His love.
Let your prayer be similar to one spoken by Vance Havner, “Lord, let me never get used to living. Keep afresh in my heart a childlike wonder. Above all, let me never get used to being a Christian. Let me walk with a constant sense of surprise and expectancy. Why should there be a dull moment in the life of a Christian when every hour is a fresh adventure in faith and love?”

The following quote became the signature of the life of Gypsy Smith, the well known evangelist who lived into his eighties, “I have never lost the wonder.” May you never lose the simplicity of trusting His love and the wonder of watching Him work in marvellous ways.

MOTHER TERESA HOMILY

Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis

Holy Mass and Rite of Canonization of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Peter’s Square, 4 September 2016

“Who can learn the counsel of God?” (Wis 9:13). This question from the Book of Wisdom that we have just heard in the first reading suggests that our life is a mystery and that we do not possess the key to understanding it. There are always two protagonists in history: God and man. Our task is to perceive the call of God and then to do his will. But in order to do his will, we must ask ourselves, “What is God’s will in my life?”

We find the answer in the same passage of the Book of Wisdom: “People were taught what pleases you” (Wis 9:18). In order to ascertain the call of God, we must ask ourselves and understand what pleases God. On many occasions the prophets proclaimed what was pleasing to God. Their message found a wonderful synthesis in the words “I want mercy, not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6; Mt 9:13). God is pleased by every act of mercy, because in the brother or sister that we assist, we recognize the face of God which no one can see (cf. Jn 1:18). Each time we bend down to the needs of our brothers and sisters, we give Jesus something to eat and drink; we clothe, we help, and we visit the Son of God (cf. Mt 25:40).

We are thus called to translate into concrete acts that which we invoke in prayer and profess in faith. There is no alternative to charity: those who put themselves at the service of others, even when they don’t know it, are those who love God (cf. 1 Jn 3:16-18; Jas 2:14-18). The Christian life, however, is not merely extending a hand in times of need. If it is just this, it can be, certainly, a lovely expression of human solidarity which offers immediate benefits, but it is sterile because it lacks roots. The task which the Lord gives us, on the contrary, is the vocation to charity in which each of Christ’s disciples puts his or her entire life at his service, so to grow each day in love.

We heard in the Gospel, “Large crowds were travelling with Jesus” (Lk 14:25). Today, this “large crowd” is seen in the great number of volunteers who have come together for the Jubilee of Mercy. You are that crowd who follows the Master and who makes visible his concrete love for each person. I repeat to you the words of the Apostle Paul: “I have indeed received much joy and comfort from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you” (Philem 1:7). How many hearts have been comforted by volunteers! How many hands they have held; how many tears they have wiped away; how much love has been poured out in hidden, humble and selfless service! This praiseworthy service gives voice to the faith and expresses the mercy of the Father, who draws near to those in need.

Following Jesus is a serious task, and, at the same time, one filled with joy; it takes a certain daring and courage to recognize the divine Master in the poorest of the poor and to give oneself in their service. In order to do so, volunteers, who out of love of Jesus serve the poor and the needy, do not expect any thanks or recompense; rather they renounce all this because they have discovered true love. Just as the Lord has come to meet me and has stooped down to my level in my hour of need, so too do I go to meet him, bending low before those who have lost faith or who live as though God did not exist, before young people without values or ideals, before families in crisis, before the ill and the imprisoned, before refugees and immigrants, before the weak and defenseless in body and spirit, before abandoned children, before the elderly who are on their own. Wherever someone is reaching out, asking for a helping hand in order to get up, this is where our presence – and the presence of the Church which sustains and offers hope – must be.

Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded. She was committed to defending life, ceaselessly proclaiming that “the unborn are the weakest, the smallest, the most vulnerable”. She bowed down before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road, seeing in them their God-given dignity; she made her voice heard before the powers of this world, so that they might recognize their guilt for the crime of poverty they created. For Mother Teresa, mercy was the “salt” which gave flavour to her work, it was the “light” which shone in the darkness of the many who no longer had tears to shed for their poverty and suffering.

Her mission to the urban and existential peripheries remains for us today an eloquent witness to God’s closeness to the poorest of the poor. Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of womanhood and of consecrated life to the whole world of volunteers: may she be your model of holiness! May this tireless worker of mercy help us to increasingly understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion. Mother Teresa loved to say, “Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile”. Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer. In this way, we will open up opportunities of joy and hope for our many brothers and sisters who are discouraged and who stand in need of understanding and tenderness.[1]

[1] Source: Vatican Radio