Baptism of the Lord, First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 2025

Title

He Will Baptize You with the Holy Spirit and Fire

Outline

In the Protestant world baptism is often taken lightly

It is a witness to the world, it is obedience to the command of Jesus, and perhaps it “seals the deal” in that it outwardly expresses the inward promise sorta like notarizing a deed of sale. For the Reformed it is hope that the child is elect, but it does not make the child elect. Anglicans can mean many things by christening, but other than making the person a Christen they are vague in the meaning. Yet only the Quakers and similar groups do not baptize, being content with the “inner spiritual meaning.”

The Biblical world and the Catholic Church flowing from it does not take it lightly, or at least should not.

Baptism is the anointing of Jesus for Messianic ministry

John the Baptist knew he was not the Messiah, just a voice, and he was not baptized but baptized folk into the company of those awaiting the Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth came and was baptized, anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. God flowed through him “healing all those oppressed by the devil,” God designated him his servant, God kept sending him beyond the boundaries of Israel incorporating outsides, not just renewing insiders.

Now baptism becomes the means of incorporation

Jesus is the Son, as the voice from heaven said, so he needs no incorporation, but rather in his baptism he makes baptism incorporation into him.

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Yes he take the same Spirit and immerses us in it, so now this love of God that indicated to John that Jesus was the one, showing outwardly what he was inwardly, is within us connecting us to the Trinity, yet it is also fire, burning the marks of the evil one out of us and purifying us from his damage. That is why exorcism accompanies baptism.

So we continue the ministry of Jesus

Now we live as servants of God as we yield to the power of the Spirit, not making a tumult, but bringing healing, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench. He will faithfully bring forth justice.” And we do that to all the nations, for we are sent to “To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” We do this not in our power, but in the power of the Spirit that makes us one with Jesus, one with the Triune God.

So, Sisters, the Baptism of Our Lord is in a sense the birth of the Church

While Pentecost will be the sending to the nations, the Baptism of our Lord is the start of the gathering in response to Jesus’ call to repent and enter the kingdom.

And that is also why Adoration and other ways of listening to the Spirit are so basic to our ministry, for one cannot minister truly as Jesus unless the Spirit within you is directing you in living his life in the world.