HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (YEAR C)
HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (YEAR C)
HOMILY THEME: YOU ARE MY SON, THE BELOVED; MY FAVOUR RESTS ON YOU!
BY: Fr. Casmir Nkamuke
Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11/ Titus 2:11-17; 3:4-7/Luke 3:15-16,21-22
With today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Christmas Season ends. The liturgy of today reminds us of the transformation we received at our baptism as Christians, and our role as baptised Christians.
In the first reading, Isaiah speaks of God’s servant who ushers in true justice to the people. While historical studies have not been able to point out exactly who this servant of God was, Jesus Christ uses a similar passage (Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1) to inaugurate his earthly ministry, and declares he is the fulfilment of the promised liberating prophet.
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In his address, Peter reminds us that what makes us God’s favourite children revering him and doing what is right and acceptable to him. By virtue of our baptism, we become children of God and receive the unction to function as servants of God and advocates of justice and equity in the world.
Luke’s account of Jesus’s baptism is unique. It gives no account of Jesus’s baptism. Rather, it records two testimonies about Jesus: one earthly and the other heavenly. John declares that Christ is more powerful than him, and that he will baptise with Holy Spirit and with fire. After his baptism, the Holy Spirit descends upon him like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares him God’s beloved and favoured Son. Christ is true God and true man. He is supreme over all creatures. John, the greatest man born of a woman, declares himself unfit before him. This is further affirmed by the heavenly voice.
Beloved in the Lord, the Feast of the baptism of the Lord calls us to reflect on our baptism. At baptism, we rejected Satan and became Christians. With this, we partake in the divinity of God. We receive the Holy Spirit and become God’s beloved children whose favour rests on. Such privileged status demands us to be witnesses of God, to strive to always do what is right and acceptable before God, and to advocate for justice and fairness in the society. By virtue of our Christian calling, our deeds and thoughts ought to reflect the salvific and redemptive life of Christ in our world. As God’s beloved children on whom his favour rests, it is necessary to live rightly and justly and confront the societal ills with our baptismal values.
May God give us the grace to manifest our baptismal values in our society today. May world leaders lead their nations as servants of God that bring usher in justice, peace and love, rather than violence and war. May our hopes and aspirations this Jubilee Year reflect our status as God’s beloved children whose favour rests on. May God give us the courage and strength to surmount all challenges that confront us and remain firm in our faith as God’s children.
Happy Sunday
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