 Gospel
Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented.
And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
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The celebration of the Feast of the Lord's Baptism is 'in a way' a continuation of the Ephipany we had last Sunday. Last week, we heard the story on how the magi from the east searched the land to find the new born king of the Jews. The shining star from the heavens guided the wisemen to the exact location where the christ child was. Jesus revealed himself not only to the jews but to pagans and gentiles as well.
In this sunday's gospel, the Lord's time has come. Just like everyone else wherein there's a certain point in time where we must accomplished something, Jesus time had come. He was about to embark on the greatest mission on earth where no one had done before - that is to save the whole world from the clutches of sin and death. He had no grand entrance as what our congressmen, senators or malacanang officials always wanted in parties, rallies and meetings. He chose to be like nobody in the crowd, with the poor, wanting to see the famous prophet wannabe John the Baptist whose name by that time were known in the whole region of Judea and Gallilee. Jesus wanted to be baptized not because he is a sinner, but because it has to be done according to what was written. Every prophet of Israel had a spiritual bond with God and Jesus took the opportunity of John baptizing in the river Jordan to be 'blessed' and also to 'reveal' himself to others the Second Time Around. This revelation, as what we can read in the gospel passages, 'The Spirit of God descending like a dove' (Matthew 3:16). First it was a star that guided that wisemen, now it's a dove and a voice that revealed Jesus to the Jews. That indeed, He was the messiah from God.
This Sunday's gospel also reminds us of our own baptism. The sacrament of Baptism is not just a ritual meant to get lots of Ninongs and Ninangs or 'pakimkim'. It's our Spiritual birth from above. That we are, like Jesus, beloved sons and daughters of God. That we, too, have our own share in proclaiming the good news in our lifetime. A priest would put Holy Oil in the forehead of a child during baptism signifying our annointment from the Father as what he had done with His prophets and the apostles. The Holy Spirit of God descended on us during our baptism, bonding us with Him and availing us of divine gifts. These gifts of the Holy Spirit are not exclusive for the chosen few, it's a free gift that we must discover thru the help of our faith in Jesus.
-Bong Buenaflor
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