Feast of The Baptism of the Lord
(Sunday, 10th January 2016)
“While Jesus was at prayer, Heaven opened.” – (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22)
It is said that Pope St. John Paul II believed that the greatest day of his life was the day that he was baptised. Not that he remembered much about the day as he was only an infant, but he knew from a spiritual perspective this was the day he was received into the ‘Family of God’. As he looked back many years later, he realised that day was very significant in the life that God had destined for him.
What do we consider the important dates and moments in our lives? What are the key events that have shaped our lives? No doubt there are good times, and possibly sad times. Whatever kind of days or dates we remember, these have helped form the kind of people we have become.
The baptism of Our Lord is of great significance in His life. John’s baptism was for the forgiveness of sin, to prepare the people for the “Coming of the Messiah”. Jesus though was without sin, but He chose to be baptised so as to be recognised the same as the People of Israel. Jesus desired to be in solidarity with the ‘Chosen People’. Jesus’ baptism was also the beginning of His three years of His public life. It was central to God’s great plan of salvation. Jesus’ baptism with water now will be a foreshadowing of His baptism by ‘blood’ on the Cross of Calvary within a few years. John the Baptist recognises Him as “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”.
Do we recognise key moments when the “Lamb of God” is passing by in our lives? Do we recognise the great opportunities in God’s plan for our lives?
The “Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy” that Pope Francis inaugurated in December continues throughout this year. We are urged by the Church to continue to experience the special graces of this time. This ‘Year of Mercy’ was marked with the opening of the Holy Door, which occurred at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was then was repeated in every diocese around the world. Pope Francis asked every bishop to establish Holy Doors in the local communities, so that all of us can partake in yet another opportunity for healing, and the true treasure of the Church: God’s perfect, merciful love for us. Today’s feast of Jesus’ baptism is a perfect time to highlight how God is so abundant with His merciful and saving love.
Grace is what the Church wants us to receive abundantly in this year of mercy. Grace and mercy are the reasons that the Holy Doors have been established all around the world. Jesus himself is “the door,” as John writes in his gospel (John 10:9). We must come to Him, and we do this most profoundly in approaching the Holy Eucharist, and receiving Jesus in the ‘state of grace’.
The Holy Doors are in a way also pointing us to the ‘doors of mercy’ of the Confessional Box, where we receive the ‘washing clean’ of our souls. The Sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation is in a way like John’s baptism where we are preparing our souls for the Coming of Christ in the Eucharist. Even though God has given us everything, this world is still messy and difficult. Knowing that we need ongoing strength and help, God continues to come where we are.
So many have drifted away from this sacrament of ‘healing’. So many have lost the sense of what sin is and the great harm it is doing. So many miss the opportunities that God is giving them. Let us resolve that this year we won’t miss the “extraordinary” opportunities being offered. Let us become “joyful witnesses” to the great power coming from regular Confession. Hopefully when we look back many years from now we will realise how this year became a time of great graces and holiness in our lives.
Fr. Rory Brady