Today’s readings for mass celebrate the baptism of the Lord. The gospel is short, but sweet. “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?”
We can surely relate to John the Baptist’s feelings. Who wouldn’t feel inadequate standing in the presence of God’s own son? Christ was a king, asking for his servant to baptize him. Jesus’ response spoke volumes, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Allow it now … this sounds like Jesus knew his kingdom was not of this earth, but for now, they needed to do what was right in his Father’s eyes. The decision Jesus made to present himself for baptism did indeed make his Father very happy. This act was done by Christ’s own free will. His Father did not make him do this. When Jesus came out of the water, a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” In some ways God is not all that much different from us, because He obviously watched His son’s baptism with love and pride, like many earthly fathers do when their children are baptized. This makes sense because we were created in the image and likeness of God. God has many of the same feelings that we do.
Sometimes when really important events occur in our lives, time can seem to stand still and everything around you fades into the background for a brief moment in time. When couples exchange marriage vows it is like this, and so are the first moments a new parent holds their newborn baby for the first time. Today’s gospel account of Christ’s baptism sounds like time stood still for a moment too, when the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus like a dove. It makes you wonder how mankind came to know about this occurrence. Today’s gospel is written by Saint Matthew, but he wasn’t present when Christ was baptized. Perhaps John mentioned it to one of his close disciples who told the story to others. Or, perhaps everyone present that day witnessed the heavens opening and the Spirit of God descend upon Jesus like a dove, and heard God’s voice speaking from the heavens. We are fortunate to know this much though. So many details of Jesus’ life were not recorded.
The prophets recorded a great deal about Jesus’ life though, long before he was ever born. In today’s first reading for mass, the prophet Isaiah foretold Christ’s coming and almost the exact words God would later say at his baptism. “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit.” (Is 42: 1) The rest of the first reading from the book of Isaiah foretold what Jesus would be like, and his words rang true. “A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench.” Jesus did become “a light for the nations” too.
The last sentence of the first reading is beautiful because Christ was sent “to bring out the prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” It is beautiful on many levels and not just in regard to prisoners, although Christ did command us to visit those in prison and this will also be one of the criteria he will judge our lives by, at the final judgement. (Mt 25: 36-50) However, this sentence is also beautiful because it illustrates that Jesus would love all people, even those who are shut away and forgotten by society.
In ancient times, people were chained or confined in dungeons underground in the darkness and suffered terribly and alone, but God knew they were there and cared about the suffering they endured. It is no different in modern times with those who are incarcerated who feel forgotten and abandoned by their families, but it can equally apply to the elderly who are confined in nursing homes and feel alone in their suffering because their families do not come to see them either. There are also many women and children who feel trapped in a cycle of domestic violence or abuse and may feel very alone and that no one cares what they are going through.
Jesus brought hope into the world though, and helped to open the eyes of the blind toward their fellow human beings’ suffering. Jesus spent his entire public ministry alleviating suffering wherever he went. He did not want to see anyone suffer sickness, or hunger, loneliness, or rejection by their families and communities. These types of “crosses” were not his will and they should not be ours either. Not every negative situation in our lives should be accepted at face value as our “cross”. Whenever possible, we should do everything we can to help alleviate suffering in the lives of all those we encounter, but especially those who are out of sight, but not out of mind. May we open our hearts this year, to people who feel isolated and forgotten by their families and the communities that they live in.
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