The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Are You Eager to do Good?

Last updated on: January 10, 2016 at 5:32 pm by David Cruz-Uribe

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Are You Eager to do Good? 2016-01-10T17:32:44-05:00 David Cruz-Uribe

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A homily for the opening of Ordinary time. I got sidetracked this week thinking about the meaning of baptism as incorporation into the Church, and what this means pastorally: is there ever a time when pastors should refuse to baptize children? Pope Francis has rejected a narrow, exclusionary attitude towards the sacrament, but does this leave open the door to ever refusing it? And can it be done in a way that does not make it a proxy for the culture wars? Interesting enough that I have made a separate post out of it.

But that is not what I decided to preach about, at least not directly. Your thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.

Today is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Last week, on the feast of the Epiphany, we brought the Christmas season to an end, and today marks the beginning of Ordinary time. Throughout ordinary time the readings will call on us to reflect on the public ministry of Jesus: or, as St. Luke puts it, on “everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning.” The beginning of his public ministry is marked today by his baptism by John.

John the Baptist, last of the Old Testament prophets, had come proclaiming the imminent appearance of the messiah. In the passage just before today’s gospel, which we heard on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, John calls for people to get ready, offering “a Baptism of repentance for the the forgiveness of sins.” This is why, in the beginning of today’s gospel, “the people were filled with expectation.” As we heard in the other readings during Advent, the Jewish people had long been promised that God would send the Christ—that is, his anointed one—to restore his people to Himself. Now John had appeared and was saying that the time was at hand he is here: get ready, repent of your sins, reform your lives!

But then, the baptism of Jesus passes by, unnoticed by the crowds. Unlike in the gospel of Mark or Matthew, Luke is not concerned with the actual baptism of Jesus. It happened, but Jesus was one among many, unremarkable. Luke is more concerned to present Jesus at prayer and God marking him out, sending down the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove. The public ministry of Jesus begins quietly, without the fanfare and tumult that most people were expecting to accompany the arrival of the king of kings.

Luke wants to show us a messiah who empties himself, who has become one with the people he has come to save. Jesus is the suffering servant described by Isaiah in the first reading. In this passage, written during the exile in Babylon, the prophet offers comfort to his people by relaying God’s promise of his anointed one. But this messiah would not be a king in glory. He will become a “light for the nations”, but not violently or dramatically. Even as he brings justice, he will not break the bruised reed, or crush the smoldering wick.

This is the reason that Jesus, the spotless lamb of God, sought to be baptized by John, a baptism of repentance, even though Jesus is without sin. He wants to bring us to his kingdom not by force but by encouragement. He says to his people, “Come, follow me!” and then points the way. His baptism was a sign of his humanity, an example for us to follow. In baptism, Jesus offers us the grace of the Spirit that makes it possible for us to follow him.

Today, as we reflect on the baptism of Jesus, we should also consider our own baptisms. Some few of you were baptized as adults, but the majority of us were baptized as infants. Our parents and godparents stood in your stead and made the promises in our names:

“Do you reject Satan all his works?”

“Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?”

“Do you reject the glamour of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin?”

These are negative statements: by seeking baptism we are freed from the bondage of sin and are given the strength to turn away from it.

But what are we turning to? The second question hints at this: we are seeking to live out “the freedom of God’s children.” What does this freedom entail? St. Paul, in the second reading today, tells us that we are prepared in baptism to “to reject godless ways and worldly desires, and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly.” Our faith calls us to more than the absence of sin in our lives. We are called to leave the darkness and live by the light of Christ. If we are faithful to our baptism, if we are truly responding to the Spirit that God has poured into our hearts, then we must do more than not sin. We only live our faith when we are “eager to do what is good.”

Today, tomorrow, and throughout the week, we need to live in the freedom God, in his mercy, has given us. We need to be eager to do good. Like Jesus, we should do this simply, without fanfare, without crying out, without shouting or calling attention to ourselves. Do not just reject evil, but actively try to do something good, especially in the face of evil. In our daily lives: at work, at school, with friends and family, be patient, be kind, be generous, be forgiving. Reach out to those who are marginalized, isolated, bullied, ignored. Share something with a homeless beggar. Take the time to visit an elderly friend or neighbor. End an old fight, apologize, seek to be reconciled.

In the Eucharist today, God wants to strengthen us to do good. Take and eat, and find in the bread of angels the grace we were first given in our baptism. If we open our hearts to God in prayer, the Spirit will be poured out upon us, richly, and we will be able to serve him in all things, eager to do good.

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Previous Post

January 5, 2016

Richard Dawkins: Cynic or Blind Man?

Next Post

January 11, 2016 Should we ever refuse baptism?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2019 A Consistent Ethic of Life Aaron Weldon Abortion absurdity Abuse Scandal Academics Adoption Advent Africa agreement/disagreement with Church teaching Alexander Schmemann Alexham Alterity America Amnesty International Anarchism angels Anglicanism Animals Annual Statistics Anthony Anxietas Apocalyptic Apophatic Appalachia Aquinas Art Atheism Atonement Augustine Authority Baptism Beauty Bible biblical criticism biblical scholarship Bioethics Bishops Black Catholics Black Theology Blackadder Blogs Books Breastfeeding Brett Salkeld Buddhism Bush administration Byzantine Catholic Calvinism Canada Canon Law Capital Punishment Capitalism Caryll Houselander Catholic Blog Awards Catholic Blogging Catholic League Catholic Social Teaching Catholic Worker Movement Catholicity CFL Charity Children Chris West Christ and Culture Christian Democracy Christian Unity Christmas Christology Church Church Doctrine Church History Climate Change Cohabitation Colbert Collegiality Communion Communism Comparative Theology Competition Conferences conscience conscience rights Consequentialism Consistent Life Ethics Consumerism Contraception Contrition Conversion Converts Coptic COVID-19 Creation Critical Thinking Cross Cuba Culture Culture of Death Culture of Life Darfur David Cruz-Uribe David Wheeler-Reed Death Death Penalty Democracy Demons Desert Fathers Devil Dialogue dignity Disability Disarmament discernment Discipleship discrimination Dissent Distributism Division Doctrine Domestic Church Dorothy Day Double Effect Doubt Down syndrome Driving Early Church Easter Eastern Churches Ecclesiology Economics Economy Ecumenism Education El Salvador Election Election 2020 Ellul Embryonic Stem Cell Research Empire Energy Enlighenment Environmentalism Ephraim Radner Episcopal Church epistemology Equality Eschatology Ethics Eucharist Europe Euthanasia Evangelization Evil Evolution Excommunication F.X. Durrwell Facism Facts Fair Trade Faith Family Fashion Feddie Feminism Feminist theology Fertility Fetal Rights Fiction Film Finances First Things flags Folk Religion Food Foreign Affairs Forgiveness Frank Sheed Free Speech Freedom gay & lesbian persons Genocide George W. Bush George Weigel Gerald L. Campbell Girard/Mimetic Theory Global Warming Globalization Gnosticism Good Friday Grace Gratitude Greed Grey Cup 2009 Guadalupe Guest Post Guest Posts Gun Control Gustave Martelet Habitat for Humanity Hans Urs von Balthasar Harry Potter Hate Speech Health Health Care Healthcare Heather King Hebrew Bible Henri de Lubac Henry Karlson Herbert McCabe Heresy HHS Mandate Controversy History Holidays Holiness Holy Spirit Homiletics Homily Homosexuality Hope Hospitality How Far Can We Go? How Far Can We Go? Human Person Human Rights Humanae Vitae Humility Humor Hunger Hunting Identity Idolatry Ignacio Ellacuría Imagination Immigration In Memoriam Income Inequality Inculturation Indigenous People Individualism Inklings Intellect Interdependence Internet Interpretation Interviews Introduction Iraq War Islam Israel Jain James Alison James Martin Jazz Jesus Christ Jews Joe Biden Joe Hargrave Johann Baptist Metz John Allen John Henry Newman John Paul II John the Baptist John XXIII Jonathan Josef Pieper Joseph (the husband of Mary) Joseph Bernardin Joseph Ratzinger Josh Brumfield Journals Joy Judgment Just War Justice Kari Lundgren Karl Rahner Katerina Ivanovna Kenya Keynes Kingdom of God Kyle R. Cupp Labor Language Latin America Law Leanne Ogasawara Legion of Christ Leisure Lent Liberalism Liberation Theology Libertarianism Libya Lies Life life & dignity & responsibility of the human person Literature Little Way Liturgical music Liturgical Year Liturgy Living Simply Living Wage Local Church Lombard Lord of the Rings Louis Dupre Love M.Z. Magic Magisterium Mark DeFrancisis Mark Gordon Marriage Martin Luther Martin Luther King Jr. Martyrdom Marxism Mary Masculinity Matt Talbot Matthew Fish Matthew Levering McCain Media Memorial Day Mennonites Mental Illness mercy Michael Iafrate Middle East militarism Miroslav Volf Mitt Romney Modesty Moral Theology Morality Mormonism Morning's Minion Mother Teresa Music Muslims Natalie Nate Wildermuth Nationalism Native Americans Nature Nazis Neuhaus New Evangelization New York City News NFP nihilism Nonviolence Not Abortion Nova's Ordo Nuclear weapons Nuns Obama Occult Old Age Opus Dei Ordination ordination of women original sin Orthodoxy Oscar Romero Other Voices Pacifism Palestine Palin Papacy Papal Peace Messages Papal Social Encyclicals Particular Affections Partisanship Patriotism Paul Paul Ryan Paul VI Peace Pentimento persecution Personalism Phantastes Philosophy PKD Planned Parenthood Pluralism Poetry Policraticus Politcal Apathy Politics Poll Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis Pope John Paul II Pope Leo XIV Population Postcolonialsim Poverty Power Prayer Preaching Predictions Predictions for 2012 President Barack Obama priestly formation & discernment Pro-Life Progress Prophetic Witness Proportionalism Public Diplomacy Public Policy Question Quotes Rachel Maddow Racism Radical Catholic Mom Radical Catholicism Raymund Schwager Real Catholic TV Real Presence Reconciliation Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange Religion religious freedom Responsibility Ressourcement Resurrection Rick Garnett Ridiculous Crap You Never Thought You'd See Robert Barron Roe v. Wade Roman Curia Rome Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation History Sam Harris Sam Rocha Same-sex Marriage Saskatchewan Roughriders Satire School of the Americas Science Scripture Seamless Garment Second Vatican Council Seeing Sex sexual violence Sexuality Sia Sin social justice Social Security Socialism Society of Jesus Sofia Loves Wisdom Solidarity Sophia soteriology Soutenus Spirituality Sports St. Dismas St. Joseph Stanley Hauerwas Statistics Stimulus Suffering Sunday Reflections Supernatural Supreme Court Symbolism Syria Taxing Technology Terrorism The State The Tea Party The Trump Administration Theological Anthropology Theology Theotokos Thomas Merton Throwaway Culture Tim Muldoon Tim Riley Tim Tebow Time Titian Tolkien Torture Toys Trade Traditionalism Transgender Transportation Transubstantiation Trinity Truth TV U.S. Affairs Uncategorized Unions unity among people who disagree US Catholicism USCCB Usury Utilitarianism Utopia Valentine's Day Vatican Vatican II Veterans Vicarious Suffering Video Violence Virgin Mary Vocations Voluntary Associations Voluntary Poverty Voting Vox Nova vox nova blog war War and Peace War Strategy Wealth Weirdness Welfare state Women Women Priests Work Woundedness Youth

Select a Month June 2026 May 2025 February 2025 January 2025 July 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 July 2023 March 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 November 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which animal did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on, fulfilling prophecy?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Camel Horse Donkey Ox