FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD ISAIAH 42: 1-64, 4-6 ACTS 10: 34-38 MARK 1:7-11 Our first reading presents a mysterious figure identified as the servant of the Lord. The Lord himself speaks of this servant of his as the one whom he upholds, his chosen one with whom he is well pleased and on whom he has put his Spirit. He enjoys the Lord’s favor, closeness, trust and support. The Lord appoints him for a specific mission: to bring justice to the nations, to establish justice on earth and to cause the victory of justice; to teach the knowledge of God, to be a light to the nations to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners from confinement and from dungeon those who live in darkness. The mission of the servant of the Lord is difficult. Justice means three things: to give each person what they deserve, to live honestly and to do harm to no one. In order to cause the victory of Justice, the servant of the Lord will have to tussle it out with those who do not want to give others what is their due e.g. a just wage, he will get trouble with those who govern by unjust means e.g. dictators and those who allot to themselves more than what they deserve; the corrupt. If he is going to teach the knowledge of God, he is going to get into trouble with those, especially religious leaders, who manipulate the ignorance of their flock to their advantage. If he is going to open the eyes of the blind, he is going to get into trouble with those who do not want the masses to see that their condition could be better. If he is going to set prisoners free, then he is going to get into trouble with the prison authorities and endanger the communities by releasing dangerous people into the communities probably before they are rehabilitated. If he is going to be a light to the nations, will he survive the envy, jealousy and the intrigue of other pseudo world stars and those who think they are the only ones who are the light? It is clear that the servant of God is a revolutionary but most likely he will not survive and his mission will meet stiff resistance. Though a revolutionary, the approach he will use is fascinating. The prophet presents what he will not do in order to achieve his mission. He will not cry out, he will not shout, his voice will not be heard in the street, like those preachers on the streets who shout till their voices are horse. His approach therefore will seek the inner transformation of the persons and not persuasion, inducement or force. This is not how the powerful and revolutionaries of this world seek change. Since his mission is difficult the Lord assures his servant that he has grasped him by the hand and he is there to protect and to lead him. Who is this mysterious figure? None of the prophets of old fits his description. Not even great personalities like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Theresa of Calcutta or John Paul the second fit the description of the servant of God. The first Christians identified the servant of the Lord with Christ. Having been stupefied by Jesus’ teaching of love of enemies, the beatitudes, and his love of sinners and outcasts and appalled by the fact that the life of a good and just man had ended in total failure, they searched the scriptures and found in Isaiah the story of the servant of the Lord who is unjustly condemned by the very people he wanted to save. They saw that Jesus likewise saved us by giving up his own life. What the prophet said about the servant of the Lord is fully accomplished in Jesus of Nazareth. The link between the first reading and the gospel is in the fact that at Jesus’ baptism the Holy Spirit descended on him and the Lord God confirmed as his beloved son in whom he is well pleased. This is an affirmation that Jesus is prophet Isaiahs servant of the Lord. John’s baptism was of penance and conversion from a life of sin. So, why did Jesus who became man in all things submit to such a baptism? First it was to reveal the Triune God. As soon as God the son was baptized, heaven was torn open and God the Spirit descended on him like a dove and God the father said, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.” Secondly, Jesus from the start, wanted to identify with sinners. He wanted to lead captives of sin along the road to freedom by being their companions. After his baptism the Spirit led him into the wilderness to be tempted and after he had defeated the Devil he began his public ministry by launching his manifesto in this or similar words The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord . That is the manifesto of the mission of the servant of the Lord. Peter confirms that Jesus indeed fulfilled this mission without favor and for the salvation of all men. We, by baptism share in the same mission. How well are we doing the mission of the servant of the Lord for our own salvation and the salvation of the entire human race?
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 05:56:33 +0000
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