Bathed In Light

Yesterday, the Sunday after Epiphany, the Church celebrated the Baptism of the Lord by his cousin John, the Baptist (Luke 3:15-16, 21-11). One of the things that I find amazing in this scripture account is that we see the holy blessed Trinity all together in one scene! Jesus is being baptized, the Holy Spirit decended upon him in the form of a dove, and the Father spoke, proclaiming that Jesus is his son and telling all to listen to him. Wow! Can you imagine being there and witnessing this powerful scene?!!

I have read two pieces that really speak to me in reflecting on this significant event in Jesus' life that I want to share with you today. The first is ancient, the second is very contemporary.

The Second Reading in the Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours offers a beautiful light-filled reflection by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus.

Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us go down with him, and rise with him.... Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of [all people], for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all [human]kind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received -- though not in it fullness -- a ray of its splendor, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

Reflecting, with John, on the question of why would Jesus need to be baptized, one of the most satisfying reasons I've ever read or heard came to me from the meditation for today's gospel text in The Word Among Us . "When he was baptized by John in the Jordan, Jesus showed how deeply he wanted to be joined with all of us, sinners though we are. As St. Paul explained, Jesus became sin for us so that in him we might become "the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Being baptized in water, he took on our sin and carried it with him until the day of his death on the cross...."

This writer offers us a powerful invitation, as well:

...Scripture tells us that Jesus wants to baptize all of us "with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16). He wants to share the fruit of his baptism with us by immersing us in his Holy Spirit -- just as he baptized the first apostles on Pentecost.

Today's feast is an invitation for us to ask: Do I know the freedom from sin that Jesus' baptism won for me? It's also an invitation to ask: How well do I know the Holy Spirit? After all, Jesus died for us so that we could receive his Spirit and be filled with his life and love. Just as the Spirit came upon him when he was baptized, this same Spirit wants to come upon us and empower us to live a godly life.

"Thank you, Jesus, for being baptized for me. now come, Lord, and fill me with your Spirit!"

Let us open our hearts, pray, trust, and put ourselves in great company! Let us become one of the "radiant lights" in the world!

Have a blessed, light-filled, and holy week!

~Cindy