Reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah describes one sent by God who doesn’t cause an uproar in the streets, doesn’t even break a bruised reed along the river. This one speaks quietly but clearly and his voice is heard. He doesn’t carry a big stick. He establishes justice. Then Isaiah’s voice shifts from third person to first person, as if God is speaking, and it’s hard to tell if God is speaking of a messiah or calling all of us to be a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind and bring out from the dungeon those who live in darkness. 

So Maria sings, “The Lord will bless all people with peace.” The psalmist cries out that the voice of the Lord is over the waters, and the God of Glory thunders in celebration.

Then Peter proclaims in the Acts of the Apostles that the one Isaiah is talking about is Jesus of Nazareth, appointed by God after his baptism to be anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. And the God of Glory thunders in celebration of Jesus. In the Gospel we see the details of that appointment, that declaration by God that Jesus is the Son of God. 

Baptism makes us all children of God. Baptism marks us as sons and daughters of the Church. I asked Reba in the Archives to look in my folder for my baptismal certificate. She asked Shannon, who went down to the vault to find it. Feb. 1. That’s important. And always someone else does the baptizing. We don’t do it ourselves. Napoleon took the crown from the Pope’s hands and put it on his own head himself. Well, that didn’t turn out so well. Baptism is a gift, a great birthday gift for those of us called to the path Isaiah lays out. 

When I was a second-year novice Thomas Merton brought Daniel Berrigan over to speak to us all about a book of poetry he had just published. Afterward a little group of us, English majors to be, were ushered into the parlor to talk about poetry with Father Berrigan, but all he could talk about was being with the poor. That morning set me on a path. You’ve all had experiences that open up a path.

It’s our job to make way the path of the Lord, straighten the roads and smooth out their surfaces. Not easy. This gift of Baptism is fraught with sweat and tears and pain. And it’s the honor of our lifetimes to have that job. 

Say the creed today with deep joy – we are an expression of God’s infinite love. That just as Jesus was anointed in Baptism with the Holy Spirit and with power, so are we anointed. That our chore, our hard work, is to make God’s love live among us.