Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At a recent talk that Fr. Cantalamessa (who is the preacher of the Papal Household) gave at the Seminary last week he mentioned that when a baby is baptized in danger of death and survives the child is brought back to the church not to be baptized again but to receive the other parts of the Rite of Baptism: the signing of the cross, the anointings of oil, the white garment, etc. He drew a parallel that we also have to return to the Church to receive the fullness of the Sacrament of Baptism later in life because we did not understand much of what God was giving us since most of us were infants. How few people actually return to the Church in a more serious way to receive this formation.
We can reflect a bit on this as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday (Luke 3 15-16, 21-22) which is a new kind of birth, more excellent than the first birth. And in Christ’s case it was witnessed by the Trinity.
Jesus goes naked into the waters and thereby prefers the muddy waters of the Jordan to the adoration of the angels. Honestly, I rather enter the Hudson than the Jordan if I had a choice. How can we not be moved to see the humility of the Creator who shows his love for the creature by coming down to his level in the waters of the Jordan? In other gospels we see almost a tussle between John the Baptist and Jesus. John keeps trying to stop him from lowering himself in this way. How often do we naively say no to God because we think our way is better?
Jesus finally says, “Leave it for now. Let all righteousness be fulfilled.” In other words, let’s do this together. I know your instincts say something different but trust me now. John is astonished that God in Christ is coming towards him when he knew that he is the one who should go to God. God always tries to make the way to him shorter for us. In the daily chapel here in the parish since it is very narrow we bring the Host to each person. I sense this bringing of the Host to them moves them. What Christ does in his Baptism is a much greater self-lowering.
A change of heart is signified in every Baptism, a metanoia, a turning around to see Christ, and to see what he has done for us. It is a reminder to look here and we might miss it by looking elsewhere. This repentance or change of heart is not to abase myself, but it is a clear understanding of my great worth in the eyes of God. The father of a nun was recounting how her dad was living with another woman for many years and finally returned to the family. Perhaps this thought hounded him: how much am I worth to God and why should I live in a way that denies this?
God does not want death for the sinner; on the contrary, he wants that he be converted and live. He wants them and us to have a rich life, and to turn from the void of nothingness and come to draw life from him. Penance comes from knowing how much I am worth and not to deprive myself of what God wants to give me and the love that he seeks from me.
It is a call to correct an irrational situation; to turn to the abundant waters that are right under our nose. It is not a humiliation but a sign of intelligence to realize my cisterns are broken, clogged, empty or full of mud. And I can go to the fountain of life and how the right and possibility to quench this noblest part of my being. I know of this because of Christ’s coming in the flesh.
Heavens opened wide in order to show this love of the Father. It is a special verb form that stresses how far the heavens opened and for how long. How can we remain bystanders in front of this? The Trinity opened wider physically than at any other time: the Father in Heaven, the Holy Spirit as the dove in mid-air and Jesus in the lowest part of the earth, in the Jordan. The Father says to us as well: “You are my beloved son or daughter; with you I am very happy.” He delights in us; stay close to him and to his Church.