Baptism of the Lord (2016-01-10)

[__01__]   In the Gospel of this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jesus our Savior goes to the Jordan River to be baptized. And, we are invited to accept this sacrament, this sacramental encounter with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as well.

Baptism is the beginning of our relationship with Christ. In a very traditional ritual sense, one’s whole person – one’s whole body – is submerged, immersed, plunged in water, baptized in the water.

However, what we see more commonly is water is poured over one’s head or forehead. And, isn’t it true that when our heads are covered in water somehow rained on, or immersed, then we also feel submerged. We perceive the immersion.

Baptism is immersion.

[__02__]    Jesus our Savior teaches us by immersion, not only in the water but away from the  water.

He wants us to be immersed – committed – as his disciples, saying,

“Take up your cross and follow me.”

This is the Good News of immersion.

When the 12-year old youth and boy Jesus says to Mary and Joseph in the Temple, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house, about my Father’s business?”, Jesus was speaking about the Good News of immersion, immersion in God’s word at the Temple

  [__03__]   When John the Baptist says,

“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.” (Luke 3:16 ??)

…John the Baptist is instructing us that the holy water of Jesus is a deeper immersion.

Yes, the water of John’s baptism also effected the forgivness of sins. Don’t get me wrong, the forgivness of sins and God’s mercy is central to our faith. Pope Francis himself emphasizes this by declaring 2015-2016 to be a Year of Mercy.

[__04__]    However, to understand the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism, we want to go beyond the surface of the water?

We want to below the surface of the water. This, at times, seems dangerous.

After all, what do we learn in our first lessons at the water, in a river, at a lake, at the ocean or in the backyard?

We learned to keep our heads above water or not to spend too much time underwater. We also heed and hear the whistle of the lifeguard – or grown-up  - telling us to stay in the shallow water. Don’t go out too far.

These are the first lessons.

And, if I dare make this comparison of “water level” and “swimming lessons” and the religious significance, these are also the first lessons of the Baptism of John.

That is, being baptized by John, we enter the water, but we do not stay there too long. Is the water to be trusted? Not so much. There could be a dangerous riptide or current.

Even the disciples of our Savior were only starting to understand that they were called not simply to survive above the water.

[__05__]      Was this not, e.g., the experience of Peter the Apostle?

Peter sees Jesus walk on the water and enthusiastically wants to do /try the same.

But, a few moments later, when he took his eyes off of Christ, he was drowning in the waves. He probably knew how to swim – he was fisherman – but the water was too deep and waves too high in that place and that time.  To survive, Peter had to be pulled from the water.

[__06__]    The Baptism of Christ teaches us not only about survival above the waves  - whether surfing or treading water – but also about our call to be submerged / immersed in God’s grace.

In baptism – and in all the sacraments – we believe that we are encouraged by experiences of death and resurrection.

Or, by immersion in the water and then rising again.

To accept Christ in Baptism, in Holy Eucharist, in Confirmation, we are also submerged in his death.  We die with Christ.

Have we not, at times, stood up for a principle, done the right thing under difficult circumstances, or perhaps simply avoided doing what was convenient or easy?

To do so, and to recognize God’s call, we are also immersed … and immersed so that we can learn his language, his ways and hear the words of the Holy Spirit, the words that Jesus is God’s beloved son and that he comes to save us from our sins that we can die and rise with him each day.