13.01.2008 - The Lord's Baptism -
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First Reading; Isaiah 42,1-4.6-7 Psalm 29 Second Reading; Acts 10,34-38
Gospel Reading; Matthew 3,13-17
I believe in one God, the Father! This is how the creed, the profession
of our faith, begins. I have already said that "believe" here does
not refer to the fact that I know that God exists, but that I trust that he
is there for me. We are unable to think of the existence of many gods because
of the concept that God is not created and the Being on which the existence
of the whole universe depends, the perfect Being that lacks nothing! It is,
therefore, clear that God is one and not many. In the past and perhaps even
now, some people are still convinced of the existence of two divinities, a good
one and a bad one; this belief is called dualism. There are still cultures and
religions that have many gods; this is polytheism. In these cultures or religions
most gods are to be feared, their favours must be bought with adequate rites
or sacrifices. We could almost say that these gods encourage a culture of spiritual
bribery and even black magic; someone, that is, feels authorized to lay the
blame of a mishap on someone else and to establish who should expiate, perhaps
even with their death in order to placate the offended god. We claim that there
is only one God and that his relationship with us is one of love. Our God is
a Father, he desired us and therefore, loves us. With this one word, Father,
we express a multitude of concepts and feelings. Above all the use of this term
shows our belief that we are alive thanks to him. Our lives originate from him,
from his decision of love; he is far greater than us, both as regards intelligence
and wisdom. The meaning of the word Father from Jesus' revelation of the amazing
aspects of the relationship of love that God has for us is truly enriching.
Calling him Father we would automatically think of the relationship with our
earthly father, but listening to Jesus we realize that no earthly father could
be similar in wisdom and love to God the Father!
The Christmas period ends with the celebrations of the great epiphany of the
Lord: God's voice is heard in the heavens confirming what John the Baptist announced.
This extraordinary confirmation comes in the moment that Jesus publicly demonstrates
humility. He did what the sinners were asked to do. He entered the water with
them to be cleansed of sin and of those attitudes and actions which keep people
resisting God. He was without sin, because he never resisted God, he was never
suspicious of him, he always desired to do God's will. When John protested because
he felt that it was not right for Jesus to do something which made him appear
a sinner, Jesus answered: "let it be so for the present; it is right for
us to do all that God requires." To understand we must turn to the prophets.
Jesus knew that it was God's will that "his servant" be considered
a sinner. Isaiah says "by his humiliation, my servant will justify many;
it is their guilt he bears ….. he bore the sin of many and interceded for transgressors"
(53,11-12). Jesus wishes to fulfil God's words in order to save all sinners.
The Word that comes from heaven is approving of Jesus' gesture and this too
was foretold by the prophet: "my servant will achieve success, he will
be raised to honour, high and exalted." (52,13). In fact God exalts him
when he calls him "my beloved Son". Such beautiful words were never
addressed to the angels according to the letter to the Hebrews. "My beloved
Son" shows us the greatness of Jesus! My Son was the king who had power
over all people as expressed in the second psalm. Beloved is the son of Abraham,
promised and destined to give life to numerous descendents and to be a blessing
for all peoples. "In whom I am well pleased" is the third expression
to describe the Servant of God, that servant who fulfils all God's promises.
The Word that comes from Heaven while the dove hovers over Jesus declares him
the Messiah three times, consecrated by God, sent to redeem the world from sin
and to give hope to all men. "Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen
one, in whom I take delight! I have put my spirit on him;" from today's
reading of Isaiah. The deed which John the Baptist is helping to enact is the
fulfilment of this prophecy.
Now we can look to Jesus without fear of being mistaken, we can look at him
with total trust: God trusts him, he will establish justice. Taking on the sins
washed into the water by all sinners, he makes us just and pleasing to God,
free of the fear of receiving merited punishments. St Peter helps us to focus
on Jesus in his discourse before Cornelius' family. As he passes he could see
and touch with his hand the concreteness of God's love! We receive him so that
he can continue to help us, to give life and meaning to life! Observing Jesus
we participate in the joy of God the Father! Jesus helps all people find love,
he makes them new for God!