Sunday, January 12, 2003

First Sunday of Ordinary Time

The Baptism of the Lord

Readings:

Isaiah 42: 1-4.6-7: I have taken you by the hand

Psalm 28: 1-4.9-10

Acts 10: 34-38: He went about doing good

Mark 1: 7-11: John the Baptist’s preaching and Jesus’ baptism

John the Baptist has two messages for the people who have come to hear his message of justice and, then, to practice his rite of conversion. First, the one coming after him is stronger than he and is greater than he because he will be the people’s spouse. That is, John denies being the people’s messiah, rather he who is coming is the messiah. Second, the one who is coming will baptize them, not only with water, but with the Holy Spirit. His characteristic of “spouse” is reminiscent of the story of Ruth and is newly applied to the messiah although the word “spouse” has been considered a characteristic of God in the prophetical writing from the time of Hosea. Also, this messiah is not just the carrier of the Holy Spirit, as the texts like Isaiah announced (11, 1-4; 42, 1-4, 61, 1-4), but the messiah will actually pour forth this sanctifying Spirit. Scripture scholars tell us that these announcements of John the Baptist are really more the faith of the Marcan community than they are the literal words of John the Baptist. The Marcan community began with certain followers of John the Baptist (Acts 1,22 and John 1, 2ff). For that reason, Mark knew quite a bit about the John’s moral teaching and his announcement of an imminent judgment, but what interested him more was his portrayal of John as the one who announced Jesus’ coming.

Jesus is the central character in the Marcan narrative, as he tells us from the beginning. It is not the historical Jesus that interests Mark, but the fact that the historical Jesus has become the Messiah and the Christ (8,26 Peter’s affirmation of Jesus as Messiah and 14,34—the Roman soldier’s affirmation of Jesus as Son of God). Jesus came from Nazareth to be baptized by John, although he does not confess his own sins (because he does not have any to confess according to Church dogma), he does join himself to the human condition of the people who have accepted the teaching of the Baptist, and he accepts it too. (11,23ff) This is a way of proclaiming his solidarity with sinful and converted human beings, full of faith and repentance, and, at that moment, he hears the voice and sees the vision that other Christians like Mark will later receive when they are baptized. The vision shows the heavens opening (compare Isaiah 63,1 where the text proclaims that the heavens will open and God will descend), the Spirit descending as a dove to her love nest (which shows that the Spirit affirms Jesus’ solidarity with converted sinners), and the voice announcing, “You are my beloved son, in you I am pleased.” These words remind us implicitly of Psalm 2,7; Isaiah 42,1; Gen. 22,2; Is 44,2 and 62,4. Jesus is clearly conscious of his prophetic and messianic role, but the interest of Mark’s author is to present Jesus TO US as the beloved child of the Father and the possessor of truth. Jesus is clearly the Servant Messiah who is not dominating or regal, but who chooses solidarity with the sins of his people and the ensuing consequences. It is this solidarity that Jesus has with us that Heaven acknowledges as his decisive public manifestation. Just as the Father and Holy Spirit inspire Jesus, the believer is also inspired to the same solidarity with sinners and with Jesus’ causes, which he called the Rein of God. The baptismal reality is much more than the memory of it; the text of Isaiah 42,2-7 reveals the one who has the gift of the Spirit, who speaks in His name, who creates justice, frees prisoners, gives sight to the blind. All of this creates the covenant with God’s people and a light for the nations. This is supposed to be the work of Israel and of the Church, yesterday and today. The book of Acts (10, 34—38) broadens this responsibility to all human beings, no matter what nationality or religion they profess: “whoever respects God and practices justice is pleasing to God.”

Jesus is the model and the zenith of all human beings who spend their lives “doing good and curing the afflicted” because God, with His gift of the Spirit, is in them. By our brotherhood/sisterhood and messianic service, we participate in Jesus’ sonship to the Father. In the next few Sundays, Jesus will offer us some clues, in his works, not his words, on how to make this community, which will transform us into children of the Father, a reality.

For personal consideration:

Since we celebrate Jesus’ baptism today, it is an opportunity for us to reflect on our own baptism. Do I live today, so many years after my baptism, the same fundamental option for the Kingdom of God that baptism proclaims as the center and nucleus of Christian life? Do I want to renew and reconfirm my commitment to the Kingdom which is Jesus’ sole purpose? 

For the community’s consideration:

- The Messiah’s mission was to establish justice. What is the relationship of justice and the Christian’s mission?

- Acts 11, 34 says that God “has no preferences, but that He accepts whoever honors Him and practices justice, no matter what his/her race”. Does that mean that justice is a necessary component of religious practice?

- Think about the phrase “no matter what his/her race”. Does that mean that God considers all races to be equal? Does that contradict the fact that the Bible says that there is a “chosen race, a holy people”? So what is it…..does God have or not have a favorite race or nation?

- How are Jesus’ baptism and our baptism related?

- Jesus was baptized as an adult. Many churches claim that Catholic baptism is not valid because we baptize babies. What do you think? Should we start to baptize only adults too? Why or why not?

For the prayers of the faithful

--For all Christians who continue the mission of Jesus to establish justice, transforming the world that has too many people who are excluded…

--For ourselves, that we will be committed to the needy, so that everyone will have what they need to live in dignity….

--That we may live our faith with joy as people called to freedom and unity with God together with those of other religions who “honor God and practice justice”….

--That we may through our reflection, always try to understand the will of God in our lives and follow it with confidence…

Let Us Pray

God our Father, in the baptism of Jesus you gave Him a clear vision of his mission in life. Help us to also have a clear understanding of our mission in life…You who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, true Father and Mother of all people, you do not have favorite races, cultures or religions. Rather you embrace all people who honor You and practice justice. We ask You to give us this same universal generosity, so that we will never discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, culture, sex or religion. Thank you, for you call us to a universal brotherhood/sisterhood, for ever and ever. Amen.