by Fr. Tommy Lane
We cannot remember the most important day of our lives, the day we were baptized! It is the most important day because it liberated us from original sin and joined us to Jesus forever. In one sense, it seems strange that Jesus asked John the Baptist to baptize him because John's baptism was a baptism of repentance and Jesus was sinless. But Jesus insisted, not because he needed John’s baptism, but to show us the necessity of baptism in the lives of each of us. Later Jesus asked the apostles to baptize everyone: “make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19) Early Christian tradition tells us that Jesus baptized the apostles himself in Galilee. Although this is not reported in Scripture, it makes perfect sense. So, Jesus was baptized, we are told he baptized the apostles, and he asked the apostles to baptize all nations.
Our following of Jesus begins with our baptism. When we were baptized, we were joined to Jesus forever. Think of the importance of that moment. From that moment, you have been joined to Jesus forever. Sometimes we damage our relationship with Jesus through sin but there is always forgiveness for us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When Nicodemus came to Jesus, Jesus said to him, “no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit.” (John 3:5). Baptism is so important a moment in our lives that Jesus describes it as “being born.” We receive our natural life from our mother and father, and in baptism we receive divine life, the life of God in us. We are born as children of God through water and the Holy Spirit.
After baptism we are completely different—we are new people. We are children of God, already sharing through the Holy Spirit in the life God. We are joined with Jesus. After baptism, we are children of the Father which is why we pray “Our Father.” God is your Father! What dignity God gives to each of us! I think that we will only understand fully in the next world the gift that we received at baptism. Imagine, to be joined to God forever because of baptism. That means death is not the end, so we look forward to the resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the grave, we too look forward to joining him in everlasting life because we were joined to him in baptism.
This unity between you and Jesus since baptism is something that Jesus desires greatly. Jesus wants to be in your life and wants you to make room for him in your life. John the Baptist was surprised in today’s Gospel (Year A) and said to Jesus, “you are coming to me?” (Matt 3:14) Jesus wants to come to you also and wants you to make room for him in your life every day. We can make room for Jesus by spending time in prayer with Jesus every day, reading some of the Gospels every day, making Jesus the most important part of every day.
Unity with Jesus since baptism is not something static—it grows and grows. Our friendship with Jesus grows when we receive our First Holy Communion and receive the other sacraments. Spiritual writers and saints tell us that our union with Jesus grows when we trust in Jesus even when disasters happen in our life. They tell us another time we grow in union with Jesus is when we act charitably towards others, not because we have to, but because we want to. So, the life of God we first received at baptism grows and grows during the years ahead. Jesus was baptized even though he didn’t need it. It was an act of humility by Jesus to show us that baptism is necessary to be born again through water and the Holy Spirit to become children of God and share in God’s life forever.
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2020
This homily was delivered near Regensburg while on a research sabbatical.
More Homilies for the First Sunday: The Baptism of Our Lord
Deepening our unity with Jesus since baptism 2023
Jesus’ solidarity with us 2021
The baptism of Jesus: every grace in the Church comes from Jesus 2011
Sharing in the salvific effects of Jesus’ cross through baptism 2009
Like Jesus you were anointed with the Holy Spirit at baptism
Sons and daughters of our Father since our baptism
Year C: Jesus was baptized and we are baptized, Jesus prayed and we pray 2013
Year C: Jesus with us 2022
Related Homilies: Baptism changes the quality of our souls forever 2011
Professing our faith with the Apostles' Creed during baptism