10 January 2016 - well pleased

[ Today's Readings ]

After all the people had been baptized 
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, 
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove. 
And a voice came from heaven, 
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”

The long flood of sin is finally over. The dove descends with the branch of grace in his mouth to show the world that new life is possible. The Spirit hovers over the waters bringing forth a new creation just as he did when he brought forth the original. Jesus leads his people through the waters in the definitive exodus from the lands of sin and death.

But of course Jesus needs none of this. John senses it in his reluctance to baptism him.

I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Jesus is baptized not for himself but for us. The waters don't make him holy. He makes the waters holy so that they might make us holy in turn and unite us to him.

He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Yet it is precisely at this moment of Jesus doing things which his identity does not require of him that the Father chooses to reveal his identity to us.

You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.

But again, this is not for him but for us. Baptism enlightens us about who Jesus is. It reveals a love which does not grasp equality with God but humbles itself to become like us. This act of humility really does reveal his identity. And that is why it makes sense that it is also where we come to share that identity. Baptism saves us from sin.

He saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,

But it does more. It saves us for sonship. It saves us for union with the one who is the Son of God. The Father not only proclaims the identity of Jesus. He proclaims our identity as well.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (cf. Romans 8:15).

The palace God constructs upon the waters is the Church where his family lives. He is enthroned over the flood. In baptism we come to dwell with him. Let's cry out to him with joy and thanksgiving for this great gift.

The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.

Baptism is more than a past reality. It is something which means that we are different now. At every moment we can choose to welcome the Holy Spirit and live out our lives as sons and daghters. He is baptized precisely so that he can be as close to us as possible.

Here comes with power
the Lord GOD,
who rules by a strong arm;
here is his reward with him,
his recompense before him.

Today, let us celebrate the closeness and the love of the Good Shepherd. Let us celebrate the love of the Father of Jesus and of us. United with Jesus we experience the Father being well pleased with us. Let's rest in that knowledge today.