Homily

The Feast Day of Jesus’ Baptism continues the unfolding of the Lord’s manifestations. On the 25th of December, Jesus manifested himself to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds and on the 6th of January, he becomes present to the Magi. Today he reveals himself, along the shores of the Jordan, to John and to the people of Israel. Jesus, by now thirty years old, had left Nazareth and gone to southern Palestine, to the region of the Jordan River, where John the Baptist was gathering large crowds of people who went to him to receive a baptism of repentance. That day was an extraordinary day. Luke writes that all the people "were filled with expectation." They were awaiting a different world, desiring to hear a new, true word. For this, many had gone to that place to hear the Baptist. One cannot expect a new world if one continues to go about things as usual, remaining the same. Jesus also left his house, his land, and his activities and set out to meet that preacher on the Jordan River. Jesus was thirty years of age. He arrived in the middle of the crowd that was listening to John the Baptist and got in line just like everyone else, waiting his turn to receive the baptism of repentance. John, with a heart refined by prayer and eyes made keen by reading the scriptures, no sooner had seen Jesus approaching when he recognized that he was greater that him, the one sent by God, "the one to whom he was not even worthy to untie the straps of his sandals." According to Matthew’s narration, John "scoffs himself" and does not want to baptize him, but then yields to Jesus’ insistence.
Jesus shows himself with humility. One could say that the poverty and weakness of the child lying in the manger did not disappear when Jesus grew into an adult. The child’s humility did not diminish through the years. For us, the exact opposite happens: the older we grow, the wiser, stronger, and more independent we feel. Jesus, now an adult, gets in line and allows himself to be baptized. And, at the end of his days, he will even get on his knees to wash his disciples’ feet and know the terrible humiliation of the cross. He began his life lying on the wood of the manger and will end it hanging from the cross. This is our God, one who manifests himself to us.
While deep in prayer, Jesus submerges under the water and out of the sight of those around, and at this time, the heavens open. This is the moment for which the ranks of prophets had been waiting. Isaiah had proclaimed it from the top of his lungs: "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down" (64:1). In this moment, this ancient prayer is answered. Luke writes: "the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him" (3:21-22). The sad sky of humanity is opened up, and we can see beyond; a new horizon opens up in our life, and we hear words never before spoken: "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit descend among us and show us their love. The heavens are no longer closed.
If to the shepherds, angels bore the message, and to the Magi, a star, now, the very voice of the Father announces his Son to us. The Gospel that we hear every Sunday is none other than an echo of this voice that comes from above. Rightly, Paul writes to his disciple Titus, "for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all" (2:11). The Gospel is salvation for us; it is a grace to be able to follow and listen to it, to have it as a friend for life. The apostle adds that it is "training us to renounce impurity and worldly passions, and in the present, to live lives that are self-controlled, upright and godly" (v. 12). Yes, the Gospel teaches us to live. Those open heavens above the banks of the Jordan open up also for us, now, so that we may discover a life that is happier, more beautiful, and full of solidarity. On this Feast Day of Jesus’ Baptism, we want to draw nearer to the prophet’s preaching, so as to relive the grace of our baptism. May the heavens open up today, and may the Holy Spirit descend upon us so that we can be transformed in the depths of our heart. We will also hear the Father’s voice that calls us to be a part of his family, like His beloved children.