Jesus Humbly Submitted to Baptism by John
May you continue to live out your mission as a follower of
Jesus and son/daughter of GOD the Abba!
I have always thought it was great when a parent and child
work together in the same business, the offspring eventually taking over for
the parent. They show their one-mindedness as they strive to make their living
by doing the same thing.
Jesus came among us so that He could continue the plan and
mission of His Abba-Father. He realized it was His role to make others come to
appreciate and accept how GOD is active in their lives. This was Jesus’
calling. And Jesus, in turn, has commissioned others, adopted sons and
daughters of His Abba, to continue what He has started. We are called to plunge
(baptizo - immerse) ourselves into Jesus’ work, symbolized (sacramentalized) by
our Baptism. We are called to share in the mission of Jesus, the Priest, the
Prophet, and the King
Today the Christmas/Epiphany season winds up. The Church
celebrates four manifestations or epiphanies. Today is the third of them. The
first was Jesus’ manifestation at His birth to the shepherds in the regions of
Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-14). A week ago, January 4, 2026 (in the US and certain
other countries, or January 6, 2026, in many countries), we celebrated Jesus
being shown forth (manifested, “epiphanied”) to the Magi (“wise ones”) (Matthew
2: 1-12). The fourth epiphany is Jesus’ beginning His public life with the
miracle at the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-12). Today Jesus is revealed to
the world as He is baptized in the River Jordan by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:
13-17 [today’s Gospel]; Mark 1: 9-12; Luke 3: 21-22; John 1: 29-32). Today is
the transition from Jesus’s private life in Nazareth to His public ministry.
Tomorrow, we begin Ordinary Time.
The readings together reveal Jesus as the chosen Servant and
beloved Son of the Father, anointed by the Holy Spirit to bring light, healing,
and freedom to the world. Isaiah foretells the Spirit-filled Messiah, Acts
proclaims how Jesus’ mission began at His baptism with works of mercy and
proclamation, and Matthew presents the Baptism itself as the moment of divine
revelation. Here the Trinity is manifested, and Jesus’ public ministry begins
as He moves from hidden life to active service of God’s saving plan.
First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7: ‘Behold my servant, in
whom my soul delights.’
Commentary: Jesus
knew the scripture; it was the only book he would have known. When he heard the
Voice from heaven and he experienced the Spirit of God coming upon him, he must
immediately have thought of this passage from Isaiah. He was, then, this
mysterious Servant of the Lord about whom the scripture spoke. He was to bring
Israel back to the Lord. He must have known that the Servant was to suffer and
to reach his fulfilment only through bitter suffering and death for others.
This realisation must have been with him throughout his ministry, a dark shadow
and a challenge to service. At the same time it was a confirmation of the love
of the Father who was ‘well pleased’ in him. This was to be the model for all
Christian suffering. We all know someone – we may even have experienced it
ourselves – who has to suffer lovingly and generously in caring for
others. The awesome privilege of suffering after the model of the Servant who
is Jesus must draw respect and comfort for those who serve in this way. It is a
confirmation of God’s love for them.
Responsorial Psalm: 29:1-2. 3ac-4. 3b, 9b-10: The LORD
will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 29 is a majestic hymn that proclaims the absolute
sovereignty of the Lord, calling all creation to acknowledge His glory and
power. The voice of the Lord resounds over the waters, symbolizing God’s
creative, ordering, and irresistible authority that surpasses all earthly
forces. The psalm concludes by affirming that this mighty God, who rules over
chaos and the flood, blesses His people with strength and peace, revealing that
divine power is ultimately life-giving and protective.
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38: ‘God anointed Jesus with
the Holy Spirit.’
Commentary: St
Peter was making this speech at the house of the Roman centurion, Cornelius.
Peter himself was still reeling from the shock of being told that foods (like
pork) which he had, as a faithful Jew, all his life, considered unclean were
perfectly acceptable. Now he is about to welcome into the Church a non-Jew, a
gentile! Before he could even finish his speech, the Holy Spirit came down on
Cornelius and his household, just as the Spirit had come down on the disciples
at Pentecost. All this is the consequence of the coming of the Spirit on Jesus
at his baptism. That was when Jesus began his mission, which is so strikingly
described here as ‘the good news of peace’. Religion, and even Christianity,
has so often been the cause of strife and quarrelling, rivalry between
different Christian churches, rivalry between Christians, Jews, Muslims. We
easily forget that the Spirit of Jesus is the Spirit of peace, openness,
welcome. The Spirit of Jesus does not build barriers but dissolves them, does
not inflict wounds but heals them, does not push people away but embraces them.
Is this the community of Christ which I am trying to build in those around me?
Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17: ‘When Jesus was baptised he saw
the Spirit of God coming to rest on him.’
Commentary: The
account of the baptism of Jesus in Mark, the earliest gospel, is also the
simplest. In Mark the Voice from heaven is addressed to Jesus himself, and
there is no sign that others heard it; it is an experience of Jesus: ‘You are
my Son’. In Matthew the Voice is addressed to the bystanders: ‘This is my Son’.
This makes the private revelation into a public scene, a declaration that
Jesus’ work is about to begin. In the same way our baptism is a public scene, a
declaration that we are committed to Christ in his Church – even if we
don’t remember it! Matthew also records the little dialogue of John’s
unwillingness to baptise Jesus. Why should Jesus enter into the community of
repentance which John was forming? He was no sinner! However, it was a gesture
that Jesus was entering fully into the condition of all humanity. He shared
fully in human nature, the nature of a fallen humanity. At the outset of his
ministry he must show this, for only so could he redeem the fallen human race.
Jesus is not merely passive, for he himself joins with John in making the
positive step: ‘We must do all that righteousness demands’
Reflection: Why did Jesus, the Sinless One, submit himself to
John's baptism at the River Jordan? John preached a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3). In this humble submission of Jesus we see a
foreshadowing of the "baptism" of his bloody death upon the cross. J esus'
baptism is the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God's suffering
Servant (Isaiah 42:1-4). He allowed himself to be numbered among sinners. Jesus
submitted himself entirely to his Father's will. Out of love he consented to
this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. Do you know the joy of
trust and submission to God?
Jesus' baptism - beginning of
a new creation: The Father proclaimed his entire delight in his Son
and spoke audibly for all to hear. The Holy Spirit, too, was present as he
anointed Jesus for his ministry which began that day as he rose from the waters
of the Jordan river. Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all who come to
believe in him. At his baptism the heavens were opened and the waters were
sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, signifying the
beginning of a new creation.
Heaven will open for those
who bow before the Lord: How can we enter into the mystery of Jesus'
humble self-abasement and baptism? Gregory of Nazianzus (329-389 AD), an early
church father tells us:
"Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with
him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him to
be glorified with him."
Do you want to see your life transformed in the likeness of
Christ? And do you want to become a more effective instrument of the Gospel?
Examine Jesus' humility and ask the Holy Spirit to forge this same attitude in
your heart. As you do, heaven will open for you as well.
The Holy Spirit transforms us
in the likeness of Jesus: The Lord Jesus is ever ready to renew and
refashion us in his likeness through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit -
and he anoints us for mission as ambassadors of his kingdom of righteousness
(moral goodness), peace, and joy (Romans 14:17). We are called to be the
"light" and salt" of his kingdom that radiate the beauty and
aroma of his mercy and goodness to those around us (Matthew 5:13,15-16). The
Lord Jesus wants his love and truth to shine through us that many others may
may find new life, freedom, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Ask the Lord Jesus to
fill you with his Holy Spirit that you may radiate the joy of the Gospel to
those around you.
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and with the fire
of your love and goodness. May I always find joy and delight in seeking to
please you in doing your will just as you have delighted in the joy of pleasing
your Father and doing his will.
Daily Quote from the Early
Church Fathers: Jesus came to be
baptized by John, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)
"John's baptism was looking toward repentance. Its
purpose was to bring hearers to the point of experiencing conviction for their
offenses. John, however, did not want anyone to draw the conclusion that Jesus
himself also came to the Jordan to repent of his sins. So he sets this point
straight from the outset by calling him both Lamb and Redeemer of all the sin
that is in the world. He who is able to take away the sins of the whole world
was himself without sin.
"Jesus therefore descended to fulfill all the
observances of the law, and in this context he was baptized by John in Galilee
at the Jordan. But John, recognizing the Lord as his God through the Holy
Spirit, declared that he was unworthy to bear his sandals. He excused himself
from doing what he was directed to do, because he could not conceive that
baptism was necessary for the One whom he knew had come to blot out the sins of
the world. He rather pleaded that he himself ought to be baptized by Christ,
saying, 'It is I who should be baptized by you, and do you come to me?' It is
as if he were saying, 'I am a man. You are God. I am a sinner because I am a
man. You are sinless because you are God. Why do you want to be baptized by me?
I do not refuse the respect you pay me, but I am ignorant of the mystery. I
baptize sinners in repentance. But you have no taint of sin. So why do you want
to be baptized? Why do you want to be baptized as a sinner, who came to forgive
sins?' This is what John in effect was saying to the Lord." (excerpt from
TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 12:1)
Ignition: “After
Jesus was baptized, He came directly out of the water. Suddenly the sky
opened.” —Matthew 3:16
Jesus was thirty years old (Lk 3:23) when He was baptized in
the River Jordan. His life was thirty years in the making, and He hadn’t even
left home. He hadn’t gathered disciples or done great works. He was unknown and
seemed to have hardly begun to fulfill the Father’s plan for His life.
Then Jesus came to the Jordan River and was baptized by St.
John the Baptizer. “Suddenly the sky opened and He saw the Spirit of God
descend like a dove and hover over Him. With that, a voice from the heavens
said, ‘This is My beloved Son. My favor rests on Him’ ” (Mt 3:16-17). After
being on the launching pad for thirty years, Jesus took off like a rocket. He
was burning to light a fire on the earth (Lk 12:49). Jesus exploded into the
three greatest years of ministry in history. He ran even to His death on
Calvary and His Resurrection from the dead (see Phil 2:8-11).
God the Father has a great plan for you, His beloved son or
daughter. Are you still on the launching pad? Are you dawdling? On this last
day of Christmas, renew your Baptism; hear your Father’s voice speaking of His
love for you; explode into a year of grace; fulfill the Father’s plan for your
life.
Prayer: Father, speak to me. Affirm Your love for me
again and again. “God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and power. He went
about doing good works and healing all who were in the grip of the devil, and
God was with Him.” —Acts 10:38. “The voice of the Lord is mighty; the voice of
the Lord is majestic” (Ps 29:4). “In His temple all say, ‘Glory!’ ” (Ps 29:9}
The personal action for today:
When I reflect on my own baptism, how do I feel? How can I share more actively
in the mission and ministry of Jesus? What can I do to help others become more
holy and deepen their relationship with the Lord (in our priestly role)? How
can I proclaim God’s Good News to others (in our prophetic role)? What can I do
to lead others to the Reign of God and serve them (in our royal role)?
*The Baptism of the Lord concludes the Christmas season and marks the
public beginning of Jesus’ mission. Although sinless, Jesus enters the waters
of the Jordan in solidarity with sinful humanity. In this moment, the Trinity
is revealed: the Father’s voice, the Son in humility, and the Spirit descending
like a dove. The event is not about repentance from sin but about revelation
and commissioning.
Jesus’ baptism reveals who He is and how He saves.
• He is the Beloved Son, fully pleasing to the
Father.
• He is the Servant of the Lord, foretold by
Isaiah, who brings justice not through domination but through gentleness and
self-giving.
• He is the Spirit-anointed Messiah, empowered
to bring healing, freedom, and life.
By stepping into the Jordan, Jesus sanctifies the waters and
transforms baptism into a sacrament of new creation, where identity precedes
action: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
At Jesus’ baptism, we see that mission flows from identity.
Before Jesus preaches, heals, or suffers, He receives affirmation from the
Father. Christianity begins not with moral effort, but with grace and
belonging. As Peter proclaims in Acts, God shows no partiality: the Spirit is
poured out for all who are open to Him.
Recover our baptismal identity: We are not defined primarily
by success, failure, caste, status, or productivity, but as beloved sons and
daughters of God.
Live our baptismal mission: Like Jesus, we are anointed to
bring justice, compassion, and hope—especially to the poor, the excluded, and
the wounded.
Walk in humble solidarity: In a world marked by power
struggles and self-promotion, baptism calls us to serve, not dominate; to
descend into the “Jordan” of human suffering, not remain distant.
The Baptism of the Lord invites us to hear again the voice
spoken over us at our own baptism: “You are my beloved.” Renewed in that grace,
we are sent forth to live not for ourselves, but for God’s Kingdom—through
lives shaped by humility, justice, and the Spirit’s power.