The Baptism of the Lord

Mass Readings

• First Reading Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
• Responsorial Psalm Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
• Second Reading Acts 10:34-38
• Gospel Mark 1:7-11

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Step Into the Story

Isaiah 42, the first Servant Song, likely written during the Babylonian exile around 540 B.C., promised a chosen servant who would not shout or break a bruised reed. Luke dates John the Baptist’s ministry to the fifteenth year of Tiberius, around 28 A.D. In Acts 10, at Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s showpiece port, Peter preaches to Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, and the Spirit falls on Gentiles before anyone can baptize them. Today’s feast closes the Christmas season.

1. c. 540 B.C.Isaiah’s first Servant Song
2. 4 B.C.Antipas rules Galilee
3. 14 A.D.Tiberius becomes emperor
4. 26 A.D.Pilate becomes prefect
5. This week’s scene: c. 28 A.D.Jesus baptized in the Jordan

Walk south with Jesus from Nazareth, as Mark says He came, down the Jordan valley toward Jericho, some seventy miles. The road drops steadily below the level of the sea. Feel the air grow heavy and warm. Near the place where Joshua led Israel across into the Promised Land, you reach the crowds: people from Jerusalem and all Judea, waiting their turn to confess their sins in the muddy river.

Now join the line. Ahead of you the penitents go down into the water one by one. Behind you, among them, stands a carpenter from Galilee with no sins to confess, waiting like everyone else. Hear the Baptist’s voice and the splash of the water. Watch Jesus step down into the Jordan, and keep your eyes on the sky above Him.

Encounter the Lord

Stand on the bank of the Jordan. A line of sinners waits to go down into the water, and Jesus is in the line with them. He has no sin to confess, yet He takes His place among us. John hesitates. Jesus goes down into the river anyway.

As He rises, the heavens are torn open, the Spirit comes down like a dove, and the Father speaks: “You are my beloved Son.” Jesus did not need Baptism. We did. He went down into the water to make it holy and to open the way for us. At your baptism the same Father looked at you and claimed you as His beloved child. Every day of your life, that word stands.

This week, find out the date of your baptism and mark it on your calendar. Each morning, make the Sign of the Cross with holy water or with intention, remembering that you belong to the Father.

Know Your Faith

The Baptism of Jesus

Jesus’ public life begins with His baptism by John. Though sinless, He lets Himself be numbered among sinners, accepting His mission as God’s suffering Servant and anticipating His death (CCC 535-536). Jesus’ gesture shows His self-emptying (CCC 1224).

The Beloved Son, the Anointed One

At the Baptism the Father’s voice names Jesus His beloved Son (CCC 444), and Jesus is revealed as the Christ, anointed with the Holy Spirit (CCC 438). The Spirit, who hovered over the waters of creation, descends on Him as a prelude to the new creation (CCC 1224).

Our Baptism

Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life and the door to the other sacraments (CCC 1213). It frees us from sin and makes us a new creature, an adopted child of God, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1265).

Living as a Child of God

Through Baptism we go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with Him and become the Father’s beloved children in the Son (CCC 537). The Trinity gives us sanctifying grace, so our whole supernatural life has its roots in Baptism (CCC 1266).