Homily, Baptism of the Lord 2022

 It is generally understood that his baptism was the moment when Jesus became fully aware of his true identity – that is, who he truly was and what God was calling him to do. It may have taken some time for him to develop this understanding but it appears that his baptism was THE moment, when he finally knew and accepted tht he truly was God’s “Son, the Beloved”.

The Church’s choice of scripture texts for this feast suggests that Jesus identified with the mysterious person speaking in the First Reading (Isaiah 42: 1-4,6-7) and took on his mission. This might have been about an individual’s calling to serve God or, possibly, the people of Israel being called to become a Servant of God with a distinctive mission. Whichever may have been the original case, Jesus now made this person’s mission his own.

Jesus would have understood that taking on the mission of this Servant, dedicating his life to bringing people closer to God, would involve rejection, suffering and, eventually, death. This knowledge would have been with him throughout his ministry, casting a dark shadow over his life. No doubt he would have struggled at times to accept it. But, as we sang in the opening hymn, his response at his baptism was: ‘Here I am, Lord … I will hold your people in my heart’ If this is what God wanted, then he would do it.

We all know someone – or may have experienced it ourselves – who, just like Jesus did with his life, suffers lovingly and generously in serving or caring for others. This may be single parents bringing up children on their own, some with little support; parents caring for a chronically ill or disabled child; a husband or wife caring for a spouse with a chronic or painful condition; a family member supporting an elderly (and even demanding) parent … we all know someone for whom this is now their life’s task. Although not without anguish, hardship or tears, they embrace this obligation in love (even, if at times, reluctantly) and fulfil it generously. If they are Christian, they may rage against God for this burden but see their responsibility as something God has asked of them, just as Christ saw his commitment to endure suffering for us.  

So let us remember and honour in our Mass today all whose calling in life, their vocation, is to care for another, especially those who have to do so under trying or difficult circumstances. May God renew their patience, devotion and strength. And for those of us who have personal suffering of any kind, we pray for the grace to embrace and endure it, just as Jesus did for us from the moment of his baptism.

Michael Campion
Holy Name, Jesmond
8 January 2022