Feeling useless or ashamed? We experience our Baptismal healing when we help others know God’s love for them
The Baptism of the Lord – January 12, 2025
The Gospel informs us today that Jesus was baptised. “…while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’”
This means that baptism is not just a process of wiping away sin. In the context of the Gospel we see three things happening:
1) Jesus is at prayer;
2) the spirit comes;
3) a blessing is heard that unites Jesus with the Father.
What does this teach us? Even Jesus needed Baptism, not because he sinned, but because of his humanity. In his humanity, Jesus needed to be blessed in order to go out on his mission.
In the same way, each of us, through baptism, is united with God our Father.
A ceremony or ritual helps us understand that something special has happened, a certainty is given to us, or some opportunity has been offered to us. However, to take advantage of that opportunity we need to do something to help it take effect.
For example, in many countries the 18th or 21st birthday is a special point in a person’s life. The ceremony is wonderful, the young person feels validated and encouraged. Sometimes they are given the keys to a car. That gift, however, will not really be received unless the person gets in the car and starts to drive: using it to be more productive, leading to happiness and success.
Throughout our lives each of us need moments of renewal, to take a new direction in our life. For example, marriage or religious life. At times it is not easy to “take that new direction”.
The movement of Jesus from ceremony to prayer gives us a good reminder that times of prayer, involving silence, is the way to hear God, our Father, speak to us. We will rarely hear God speaking when we are busy, busy, busy.
Our Baptism can be re-lived, renewed, through weekly Mass and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation: these are times of reflection and assessment. They are especially important for us when things are not going well. And remember: Reconciliation is not primarily about sin, but about renewing our relationship with God and receiving the assurance of God’s love for us.
For Luke, prayer and receiving the Spirit are frequently mentioned in the Gospel. Luke is a medical Doctor, but recognises the critical importance of the Spirit for a healthy, happy life. So, Baptism is important for several reasons, including:
FIRST, as a welcome: creating a formal relationship between God and each person. This meets our emotional need for BELONGING: “my chosen one in whom my soul delights.”
SECOND, it’s a blessing of encouragement and affirmation: God’s favour rests on you! This meets our emotional need for LOVE: “He does not break the crushed reed.”
Only THIRDLY is it about washing away past sins, receiving forgiveness, and starting again. This third part about forgiveness, needs further explanation: Baptism is firstly about healing for past hurts received from others, and then the mistakes we have made: “Faithfully He brings true justice.”
When we feel lost, ashamed by abuse or suffering abandonment, Baptism should – in our mind and spirit – reverse the downward spiral into despair and loss of self-worth. This baptismal healing is not a one-time moment, but can be recalled all through life whenever we suffer.
Finally, we should ask ourselves, what is all this for? Is our baptism just to help us feel better? No, the First Reading reminds us that God is calling each of us to a mission: a mission to bring healing and joy to others: especially those who are suffering today.
Speaking of Jesus and each of us, it says: “Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver, nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth… I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison…”
Many youth suffer while growing up, and Pope Francis helped them understand the connection between mission and healing: How do you come out of this very negative experience? There is one remedy, one remedy alone, to come out of these experiences: To do that which you did not receive. If you didn’t receive understanding, then be understanding with others. If you felt the pain of loneliness come close to those who are alone; flesh is cured by flesh and God became flesh in order to cure us, let’s do the same ourselves. (visit to Kenya, 2015).
May we reflect, today, on how we can experience our baptism and its healing, by our mission to help others know God’s love for them: by our presence, Catholic News Agency – Full text of Pope Francis’ powerful, unscripted talk with Kenya’s youth
By Gerard Conlan, OMI
