The Baptism of Christ
John
is baptizing when Jesus draws near. Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptizer;
certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters. He comes to sanctify
the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spirit and flesh
comes to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water.
The
Baptist protests; Jesus insists. Then John says: I ought to be baptized by you.
He is the lamp in the presence of the sun, the voice in the presence of the
Word, the friend in the presence of the Bridegroom, the greatest of all born of
woman in the presence of the firstborn of all creation, the one who leapt in
his mother’s womb in the presence of him who was adored in the womb, the
forerunner and future forerunner in the presence of him who has already come
and is to come again. I ought to be baptized by you: we should also add, “and
for you,” for John is to be baptized in blood, washed clean like Peter, not
only by the washing of his feet.
Jesus
rises from the waters; the world rises with him. The heavens, like Paradise
with its flaming sword, closed by Adam for himself and his descendants, are
rent open. The Spirit comes to him as to an equal, bearing witness to his
Godhead. A voice bears witness to him from heaven, his place of origin. The
Spirit descends in bodily form like the dove that so long ago announced the
ending of the flood and so gives honour to the body that is one with God.
Today
let us do honour to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be
cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to
God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every
revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights
shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ,
the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are
to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you
have received – though not in its fullness – a ray of its splendour,
proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and
power for ever and ever. Amen.
Source:
The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
From A sermon by St Gregory Nazianzen
Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons
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