THE HEAVENS ARE OPEN

REFLECTION FOR THE FEAST OF BAPTISM OF THE LORD YEAR A

(Is 42:1-4.6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17)

Last week we celebrated the manifestation of Jesus to the whole world with the visit of the Magi. It was through a natural sign—the sign of a star—that they were able to locate Jesus. Today, we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, which marks the beginning of His public ministry. Once again, Jesus is introduced to us but this time through the voice of the Father and the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. The greatest testimony for Christ Jesus is unveiled as He stepped out of the water; “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

In the beginning of creation, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters (Gen 1:2). Jesus steps into the waters of Baptism to inaugurate the new creation—the new order of grace. “So there are three witnesses: the Spirit, water and blood; and the three of them coincide” (1Jn 5:7-8). Jesus is the source; from His wounded side flows the grace of sanctification and incorporation into the new order of grace. He needed no baptism since He is the son of God and has no sin in him. He enters the waters ‘to fulfill all righteousness’, i.e. to submit himself entirely to the Father’s will (CCC 536), to show us the way, and sanctify the waters of baptism. Already He was anticipating the “Baptism” of the Cross (Lk 12:50).

“At his baptism ‘the heavens were opened’—the heavens that Adam’s sin had closed…” (CCC 536). Thus Jesus’ public ministry, which the Church continues today, announces that the Kingdom of God is near (Mt 4:17). Participation in the life of the Kingdom of God and its righteousness will require incorporation into Jesus Christ. It is by Baptism that we are born again in Jesus as children of God. We become God’s adopted children in Jesus Christ. This makes us co-heirs with Him of the Kingdom of God (Rm 8:17). “So by our baptism into His death we were buried with Him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glorious power, we too should begin living a new life” (Rm 6:4).

Since we are assimilated to Jesus through our Baptism, we must see ourselves as being dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus (Rm 6:11). The heavens are open; we are living under grace. Sin must not rule our lives so that we would not shut ourselves off the new order of grace. The Voice of the Father and the descent of the Holy Spirit indicate that in Jesus dwells the fullness of divinity, and we who are assimilated to Him receive divine favor and fulfillment through Him (cf. Col 2:9).

How beautiful are the waters of the Jordan that stood for all waters of Baptism! The flowing waters, gentle and steady, received from Jesus the grace to wash away the original sin and keep us clean as new creatures for the Kingdom of God. The heavens are open! So the divine unction of the Holy Spirit descends anew in the oil of chrism. Like Jesus, we step out of waters of Baptism, full of grace and newness, with the Holy Spirit and power, preaching the good news of peace of Jesus Christ, doing good and freeing the captives (Acts 10:34-38). This is the responsibility to which baptismal grace summons us to. We cannot receive the grace of God in vein (2Cor 6:1). If we want to live with Him, we must also die with Him (2Tim 2:11; Rm 6:8). By our Baptism, the Mission of Christ Jesus becomes ours too. The heavens are open; God is with us.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos

Sunday, 12^th January, 2020.

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.