Baptism of the Lord Year A
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17
Not all pilgrim-tourist sites in the Holy Land are created equal; some are geared more to prayer, others somewhat to commerce. One particularly well-curated place along the Jordan River features a restaurant boasting a nice bar and shaded patio area with an extensive gift shop and picturesque views of palm trees overhanging an artificially tranquil rivulet. A few miles downstream, the filthy water of the same stream rusts away crudely at the handrails and dumps detritus from upstream unceremoniously at various levels during its temperamental overflow. That’s the spot, fittingly, where Catholics commemorate today’s feast: “Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.”
At each turn of history, God’s faithful have anticipated their full and complete redemption, permanent relief from the evils that beleaguer them. As we come to the conclusion of the Christmas cycle, we might recall that the Incarnation was expected to accomplish this 2,025 years ago. Christ’s earliest followers seem to have understood his mission as an immediate finale to salvation history, at least at first. But “a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench.” The fragile group of chosen souls was only beginning its life of holiness as the Church, that precariously navigating Barque of Peter; the ultimate perfection of the universe would take some additional time and patience to include our willing collaboration.
Sacramental Baptism similarly initiates us into God’s divine life without terminating our natural lives, leaving plenty of work left to do. That pattern seems evident in the public ministry of Christ as it is launched at this moment, occasioning “what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism.” Thereafter, “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Certainly, God had been with Him beforehand, as He was with us prior to our immersion into the saving waters. But like His miracles, supernatural experiences then become a regular Christian occurrence, flowing from this first moment of grace; God is not just with us, but within us.
Every archaeological dig of Jewish settlements from the time of Christ uncovers ceremonial washing pools. All the observant were concerned with ritual purity; defilement spread especially through unclean liquids, but living water would cleanse them. The Jordan River or Sea of Galilee could be used for this purpose.
By the time that blessed water has made it all the way to the Dead Sea, it has refreshed the land down the historic corridor from Galilee to Jericho, near Jerusalem. Seasonal creeks from the watershed intermittently contribute their volatile flow from the mountains along its way. Like a timid brook not daring to spill out into a river, John at first did not want to presume to minister to his Master but “tried to prevent Him.” He was advised instead, “‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him.” The Baptizer humbly assumes his proper role, just as we must also, participating in the actualization of God’s Holy Will.
By obediently submitting Himself to the Father’s gritty plan for His sacred humanity, Christ modeled this cooperation for us all and then sanctified those cloudy waters, that they might in turn sanctify us. We are promised “in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” The approval immediately reechoes, summoning us to the same virtue with divine paternal encouragement: “And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.’”
Turbulence in the course of life upsets the smooth sailing we had perhaps envisaged; God’s blessings don’t always calm the storms, and we don’t find ourselves floating serenely down a lazy river. Christ certainly didn’t after His Baptism. Nonetheless, “The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the Lord, over vast waters … The Lord is enthroned above the flood” and “The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Inundated as we are by earthly worries, we don’t contemplate the cosmic import of this element, an ancient symbol of deadly chaos, tamed and harnessed by the Lord of Life as His instrument for eternal salvation, each time we pass the font near the church door. Indeed, “The God of glory thunders, and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’” His vast ocean of mercy wipes clean the world’s sloppy deluge. He delights to incorporate our personal muddy little trickles into His raging torrent of love.