THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, YR B
Is 55:1-11; Is 12
1 Jn 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11
THE HEAVENS WERE TORN OPEN
Today’s feast is a “bridge feast” because it brings the Christmas season to an end and begins the Ordinary Season. From this feast we are conducted in to the public life of Jesus for the next 34 weeks.
The baptism of the Lord is also a feast of new beginnings. Jesus travels from Nazareth to Galilee (Mk 1:8) leaving behind his childhood and family to embrace the mission that God has placed upon his shoulders; to save mankind. Baptism marks a new beginning for all of us. We are delivered from the dominion of darkness and plunged in the kingdom of his beloved son (Col 1:13). Through baptism we become special children of God and co-heirs with Christ for the blessings of God and heavenly inheritance (Rom 8:17; Gal. 3:29; Gal. 4:7). Through Jesus we become children of God.
From the very beginning of his account, Mark invites us to see Jesus, not only as the son of God (Mk 1:1) but also as the beloved Son of the Father. He is so loved by the Father; He is the fullness of the expression of the Father’s love. The gospel according to Mark is where we see Jesus’ vulnerability as a human being: groans, gets angry and suffers. Throughout Jesus’ anguish, God was with him because he is his beloved. All who are baptised are also beloved children of God. When life becomes cruel and difficult; when faced with challenges that seem to steal our breath, we should never forget our identity. We are the beloved children of God. This fact should give us the assurance that, He will not abandon us in our troubles. We shall not be vanquished by our troubles, because of God’s love for us. God loves you.
We read in Mark’s gospel, that, ‘as Jesus was coming out of the water, the heavens were “torn open”.’ (Mk 1:10). When we are baptised, the heavens are torn open so that we too receive the grace as sons and daughters of God.
May everything that clouds our ability to live our lives to the full be torn apart. May every obstacle to growth be torn apart.
By our baptism may the Lord tear open the heavens for the flow of His blessings upon our lives.
For these blessing to be concrete in our lives we must allow our own heart to be torn open to the Lord. When our hearts are torn open, heaven breaks forth upon us and we begin to live our lives to the full. We begin to embrace our life’s mission in this world.
May the grace of our baptism make us true disciples of Jesus in this world. As we journey with him in the Ordinary Season, may it be for us,a journey of spiritual growth. As we tear our heart open may the heavens be torn open upon us. God loves you.
God bless you.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
