Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

January 13, 2019.

Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord

Readings Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Responsorial Psalm 104:1B-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30; 

Tit. 2:11-14; 3:4-7 & Gospel Luke 3:15-16, 21-22.

Theme: My Favour Rests On You!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. With the Baptism of the Lord ends Christmastide - that is, the Christmas season. Our reflection shall highlight the meaning of baptism, the types of baptism, the necessity of infant baptism and pastoral application. 

Background & Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11) reveals the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the Messiah. It calls the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight. It demands that the people fill every valley and lay low every mountain and cliff. It assures that if that is done, the glory of the Lord will be manifest because the mouth of the Lord has said it.

The second reading (Tit. 2:11-14; 3:4-7) invites the faithful to give up everything that does not lead to God. It cautions about worldly ambition and notes that we must exercise self-restrain even as we live good lives here while awaiting the appearing of the world to come. It maintains that we imitate Christ who sacrificed himself to set us free from all wickedness and to purify us for himself to have no ambition but to please him.  

The gospel recounts (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22) the feeling of expectancy that grew among the people who were beginning to take John as the Christ. It also reveals the humility of John who told the people that someone greater than he was coming who would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and fire. It further discloses how the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus upon his baptism and the voice of the father which said: “You are my Son, the beloved; my favour rests on you.”

Meaning of Baptism

According to the Penny Catechism, “Baptism is a sacrament which washes away original sin, makes us children of God and members of the Church." Notice that three things are at stake in this definition:

1. First, the fact that the sacrament cleanses us from the sin of Adam and Eve which every human being incurred except the Blessed Virgin Mary because she was immaculately conceived and prepared to be the worthy mother of the Saviour - To claim she had the original sin means that Christ shared that sin which is blasphemous. So baptism takes care of that sin.

2. Second, it makes us children of God confident to call him our Father. It is not as if we were children of the devil. The point is, because of the inborn vestiges of original sin, the unbaptised person doesn't enjoy the fullness of adoption and incorporation into Christ such that he/she can confidently address God as "Abba Father." The sacrament of baptism gives us that privilege.

3. Third, baptism makes us members of the Church. Town unions’ members in every society register their members. Just so, Christians admit followers into the flock through the sacrament of baptism. This gives them full rights and privileges as sons and daughters of the Church.  As such, by the virtue of baptism, Christians share in the Common Priesthood of Christ.

Types of Baptism

The Catholic Church teaches that there are three types of baptism which include, baptism by water, baptism by blood and baptism by desire:

1. Baptism by water takes place either by sprinkling or by immersion of water.

2. Baptism by Martyrdom, also called the "Baptism by blood," refers to the martyrdom of the believer who is killed for his/her faith.

3. Baptism of Desire applies to those who wishing to be baptized, die before receiving the Sacrament. This desire may have been explicit (fully and clearly expressed) or implicit (implied but not directly expressed).

Necessity of Infant Baptism

Another important aspect of the Sacrament of baptism which the Catholic Church has often been attacked is infant baptism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides us with succinct reason for this practice when it says: "Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant baptism. The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth (CCC 1250)." About original sin, the bible says: "Therefore as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned" (Romans 5:12).

According the Director of Apologetics and Evangelization at Catholic Answers, Tim Staples, infants are baptised in the Catholic Church principally because of three reasons:

1. Baptism is the fulfilment of that which was only a type in the Old Testament. The fulfilment is always more glorious than the type. Thus, “baptism does now save you” (I Peter 3:21) in a way that circumcision could not.

2. It is true Abraham and David were St. Paul’s two examples of justifying grace occurring apart from circumcision in Romans 4. And yet, Abraham instituted circumcision by divine mandate and David was, in fact, circumcised as a little baby. Indeed, God also declared in the Old Testament that "Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant" (Gen. 17:14)." It is not a contradiction to say both faith and circumcision were necessary to remain within God’s covenant in the Old Testament, even though circumcision played no role in initial justification.

3. The faith of the parents sufficed when it came to circumcising a child. Do we not see that principle in the New Testament as well? Jesus saw the faith of the friends of the paralytic and healed the paralytic in Matt. 9:2. When people cannot have faith, the faith of family or friends suffices. So it is with infants. The faith of the parents sanctifies the children as St. Paul says in I Cor. 7:14. This is just as much a New Testament concept as it is an Old Testament understanding.

Pastoral Application

The message of Isaiah in the first reading points to Jesus who submits himself to John for baptism. Therefore, the solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord presents us with these lessons:

1. Baptism brings us comfort and expiation of sins as the first reading relates.

2. The sacrament helps train us to reject godless ways and worldly desires so as to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age as the second reading says.

3. Baptism reminds us that we are saved not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy - what the second reading re-echoes.

4. The sacrament saves us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit which God richly pours out on us through Jesus Christ our Saviour as the second reading points out.

5. Being justified by grace (both supernatural and sanctifying) baptism makes us heirs in hope of eternal life.

6. In the Lucan account of the gospel, John teaches us the virtue of humility (I am unfit to untie his sandals) which all Christians must embrace.

7. Pastors of souls must not fail to point believers to Christ rather than themselves. John says Christ must increase and he, decrease.

8. By insisting that Jesus would baptise by water and the Holy Spirit, John points to the invaluable place of the sacraments of baptism and confirmation in the Church. Recall Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus in John 3 and the following.

9. By submitting himself to be baptised, Jesus shows us that baptism is obligatory for all Christians.

10. The witness from heaven shows a Trinitarian romance: the Father approving Jesus as a legitimate Son and the Spirit descending in form of a dove to give testimony - As baptised Christians, what testimony will the Church, our family members, friends and neighbours give about us?                                                

As given by Bishop Kasomo Daniel, the effects of baptism can be divided into two categories namely the "Passive Effects" (what we receive from God and the people of God), namely, rebirth, initiation, and empowerment; and the "Active Effects" (what we give to God and the people of God), namely, our commitment and dedication to a cause, to spread the kingdom of God. Daniel insists that an understanding of the “rice” of baptism can help us understand why Jesus needed to be baptized. The meaning of baptism can be found in the four letters of the word RICE.

“R” stands for Rebirth. In baptism we are born again by water and the Holy Spirit. We are cleansed from original sin and become sons and daughters of God in a special way.

“I” stands for Initiation. At baptism we are initiated or admitted into full membership in the church, the community of the children of God in the world.

“C” is for Consecration. In baptism we consecrate and dedicate ourselves to seek and to spread the kingdom of God. We commit ourselves to be servants of God, to do God’s will and serve God with our whole lives.

“E” is for Empowerment. At baptism the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and empowers us, equips us, gives us the moral strength to say no to evil and to live as God’s children that we have become.     

                                                           

Conclusion

In conclusion, baptism like Holy Orders creates an indelible character in the recipient that no human power can change. This celebration challenges us to keep our baptismal promises as clergy and members of the laity who share in the priestly, kingly and prophetic mission of Christ. May the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit help us to keep our baptismal promises now and forever - Have a blessed week ahead!