All three readings of Sunday after Epiphany underline the divinity and mission of the One born in Bethlehem. That is what Epiphany was meant to be: a manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. So, His Baptism in the River Jordan and His first miracle at Cana in Galilee are two other pivotal Epiphanies.
January 6 (or the Sunday close to it) is commemorated as the day the Magi visited the Infant Jesus. Today, we commemorate His Baptism at the hands of His forerunner cousin, John, as recounted in the Gospel (Mt 3: 13-17). But what is the rationale behind a prophet baptising the Son of God, the Messiah?
John was hesitant, but Jesus said, ‘Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness. ’ ‘Righteousness’ or ‘justice’ is the new fidelity, a total obedience to the will of God. Jesus wished to express His solidarity with sinners through baptism. He demonstrated how His mission was a far cry from the Judaic dream of a proud and triumphant Messiah.
Realising what Jesus meant, John the Baptist agrees to baptise Jesus. As an endorsement of this act, the heavens open and the Spirit of God descends upon Jesus like a dove. Lo and behold, a voice from heaven says, ‘This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’ The bystanders must have been had goosebumps. What better confirmation could the Jews, then, expect before they accepted Jesus as the Messiah?
The First Reading (Is 42: 1-4, 6-7) prefigures today’s Gospel passage. We hear similar words from the First Song of the Servant, making the hair stand on end. The Book of Isaiah contains four oracles or poems on the Servant of Jehovah. It is not easy to identify this figure: was he the prophet himself? Or the historical Israel? Or the ideal Israel? The New Testament identifies the Servant with Jesus Christ, especially linking the last oracle with His Passion.
Meanwhile, the words echoed at the Baptism of Jesus are as follows: ‘Behold my servant whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.’
What follows is a picture of Our Lord, who is meek and humble of heart and who died for our sins. Finally, words expressing His mission on earth: ‘I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.’
Indeed, Jesus was the mediator of the New Covenant; He was a light by the love, compassion, and hope He offered to the nations. He cured the blind, the deaf, the mute, and the lame, and brought many people back to life. Finally, He has liberated you and me from physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual captivity.
In the Second Reading (Acts 10: 34-38), St Peter[1] vouches for his Divine Master when he is at the house of Cornelius the Roman centurion (considered the first gentile to convert to the Christian faith). Peter states that the name of Jesus was made known throughout Judea after Baptism, beginning from Galilee. Now anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, Jesus went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil.
Since Jesus is the Light of the World and meant to be proclaimed to the ends of the earth, St. Peter immediately clarifies that God is supranational. He does not care for the earthly divisions of nations, societies, or any other. Any person is pleasing to Him and the Heavenly Father, not by their purity or impurity but by their fear of God and His justice.
By baptism, our sins are forgiven, and our souls are infused with God’s life. We become children of the One True God. Like the first group of pagans who were awed by the Good News of Salvation at Cornelius’ house and broke their ties with their Jewish past by receiving baptism, may we too appreciate the fruits of the Holy Spirit and use our gifts to spread the Good News.
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[1] In St Luke’s Acts of the Apostles, St Peter is the primary protagonist through chapters 3-12 and the Apostle Paul through chapters 9-28.