Baptism of Repentance to bear Witness

Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Celebrating this feast reminds us of our own baptism which we received, most often as infants without being aware of receiving this wonderful sacrament. In today’s readings we see ‘witness’ as the theme, especially in the gospel (Mk 1:7-11). There are four persons bearing witness in the gospel.

John the Baptist: bears witness to Jesus as the greatest one, who comes after him and whose sandals he is not worthy to untie (Mk 1:7).

God, the Father: through a voice from heaven bears witness to Jesus as His beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased (Mk 1:11).

 Holy Spirit: bears witness to Jesus as the Holy one by descending upon Him like a dove (Mk 1:10).

Jesus: bears witness to God the Father as His true God by receiving baptism (Mk 1:9).

It was not necessary for Jesus to receive the baptism of repentance from John the Baptist. Because Jesus was neither born with original sin nor committed any sin thereafter. By receiving baptism Jesus acknowledges the Father as His God and accepts to live by the will of God. By His incarnation He is already doing the will of God yet He receives baptism to show explicitly that He vouches to keep the commandments of God. In the second reading (1 Jn 5:1-9) John makes it clear that to be children of God is to keep His commandments (1 Jn 5:2). A voice from heaven, from Father said Jesus as the beloved son. Because Jesus is keeping the commandments of God and has promised to fulfill the will of God till the end. Therefore God is well pleased with Him. We also by our baptism promised to adhere to the will of God and keep His commandments till the end of our life. Do we follow that?

The message that we can draw from today’s readings is that we have to bear witness to Jesus through our words – like God the Father and John the Baptist – and through our actions – like Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Let speak about Jesus to the people who do not know about Him, who wants to know Him and who finds difficult to grasp Him. Let us radiate the gospel values by our lives. Let our behaviours bear witness to Christ and show that we are Christians. This sickly and wounded world needs Christ today very much than ever to be healed. Let us be Christ’s (Christians) to heal the world.