by Fr. Tommy Lane
It was very strange that John the Baptist was baptizing the whole of Israel. John baptizing everyone indicated that something new and big is about to happen. That something new and big was Jesus beginning his public ministry. The whole of Israel was preparing to receive the Messiah.
John’s baptism was a sign of repentance. Anyone receiving baptism from John, did so to repent of sins. John, in his preaching, had urged people to repent because the kingdom of God was coming (Matt 3:2). Those who received baptism from John were serious about turning over a new leaf.
No wonder then that John tried to dissuade Jesus when Jesus asked John for baptism: “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” (Year A: Matt 3:14) But Jesus insisted. Sinless Jesus did not have any sins of his own to take down into the river Jordan, therefore it could only have been our sins that he took down into the river Jordan (see Pope Benedict XVI Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration pp17-23). Naturally no one would understand this at that time, but they would realize this later when they understood that Jesus died on the cross in exchange for our sins. So, Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan and his dying on the cross go together; he did both for our sins. He took our sins on his shoulders as he went down into the Jordan and as he died on the cross.
Surely Jesus also wanted to be baptized because all those who would follow him would begin their spiritual life with baptism. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (John 3:5) and as Jesus ascended into heaven, we read in Matthew that Jesus said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19)
The baptism John gave was just a water baptism, symbolizing repentance from sin. But the baptism we received was powerful because we were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We were joined with Jesus as his brothers and sisters, we received the Holy Spirit, and we can imagine the Father saying over us that he were his beloved as he did over Jesus. We receive baptism only once because it changes the quality of our souls forever. We also receive Confirmation only once because it too changes our souls forever and likewise a priest receives the sacrament of Holy Orders once in ordination. We renew our baptismal promises during Mass just before receiving confirmation from the bishop, and we renew our baptismal promises during the Easter Vigil every year. Sometimes people return from Israel saying, “I got baptized again in the river Jordan.” Whatever they did in the river Jordan, the most it could have been was a renewal of baptismal promises because baptism is once for life and changes us forever uniting us with Jesus.
Jesus joined himself to us as he underwent baptism in the Jordan. We were joined with Jesus when we were baptized. Our whole life since baptism is a deepening of our unity with Jesus. We deepen our unity with Jesus every time we pray, and every time we meet Jesus here in the Eucharist. Without the Eucharist, we are missing the fullness of unity with Jesus. He said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” (John 6:53) With the Eucharist, we have the most unity with Jesus; he said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (John 6:56)
On another occasion in John’s Gospel, Jesus said, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples.” To truly be a disciple of Jesus involves remaining in his word. The Greek word μένω (menō) that John uses to signify remaining in Jesus’ word (John 8:31) means abiding in Jesus’ words, living in Jesus’ words, soaking in Jesus’ words until they become part of our very being. Jesus is saying that to truly be his disciples involves not just a superficial learning of his words but a deep pondering on his word so that we are transformed by his word. The word from Jesus passes into us and changes us. To truly be Jesus’ disciples is not just listening to his words but his words becoming part of us. It is not just studying Jesus’ words but getting to know Jesus through his word. Abiding in Jesus’ word is living in deep relationship with Jesus.
Jesus joined himself to us as he underwent baptism in the Jordan. He took our sins upon himself as he went into the Jordan anticipating dying for our sins on Calvary. We were joined with Jesus when we were baptized. Our whole life since baptism is a deepening of our unity with Jesus.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2023
This homily was delivered in a parish in Ireland.
More Homilies for the First Sunday: Baptism of Our Lord
Jesus’ solidarity with us 2021
United with Jesus since baptism 2020
The baptism of Jesus: every grace in the Church comes from Jesus 2011
Sharing in the salvific effects of Jesus’ cross through baptism 2009
Like Jesus you were anointed with the Holy Spirit at baptism
Sons and daughters of our Father since our baptism
Year C: Jesus was baptized and we are baptized, Jesus prayed and we pray 2013
Year C: Jesus with us 2022
Related Homilies: Baptism changes the quality of our souls forever 2011
Professing our faith with the Apostles' Creed during baptism