“DIDJA KNOW?”
by: Deacon Paul Rooney (deaconpaul@cox.net)
Baptism of the Lord
(Cycle “A" – January 9, 2005)

Q. 301: Why did Jesus have to be baptized by John the Baptist (Mt 3:13-17)? Wasn’t he sinless?

A. 301: Yes, Jesus was indeed sinless! As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews would put it so insightfully, he is “like us in all things except sin” (Gaudium et Spes #22; cf. Heb 4:15). When Jesus yielded to John’s baptism, he was not declaring that he was a sinner. Instead, it was a highly symbolic gesture that was intended to show Jesus’ union with humanity, albeit a sinful humanity. It was this humanity that he had come to redeem and save from its sinfulness.

Jesus himself tells John, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (RSV). Scholars tell us that in many OT usages, that word is used in synonymous parallelism with the word “salvation” (e.g., see Ps 17:15; Jer 23:5). In His “will to save,” God calls people for that purpose, a call “in righteousness” (cf. First Reading, Is 42:6; Is 45:13), a call to save. Every call to “save” also entails a call to “respond,” which Jesus is doing. He is fulfilling the plan of God.

Immediately after his baptism, Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit for his mission. It is almost as if this divine Son had to demonstrate a great humility, consenting to this baptism from John -- even though he was sinless -- before the empowerment of his humanity could take place. The superior yields to the inferior, in all righteousness.

Know Your Catechism! Empowerment by the Holy Spirit was the expected “sign” that the Messiah had come, a sign prophesized by Isaiah 42 (CCC #1286). The “voice from heaven” and the descent of the Spirit at Jesus’ baptism was another “epiphany” or manifestation of Jesus as the expected Messiah (CCC #535). The Mission of this Messiah is passed on to us, his disciples, who are also empowered by the same Spirit through our Baptism (CCC #1223). The humility or “self-emptying” of Jesus is expressed so beautifully in his submission to John’s baptism (CCC #1224); but this humility led to his revelation as God the Father’s “beloved Son.” How humble and selfless am I, the disciple?

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha