Last weekend, the Church observed the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the liturgical conclusion of the Christmas season. Although many of us put Christmas decorations away long ago, the trees and manger scenes only recently came down in our parishes.
It’s an unusual feast to wrap up Christmas, in that the baptism of Jesus didn’t take place in his infancy, but rather as an adult. Other than a few details in Luke’s Gospel, we know little about his childhood and young adulthood, other than the general observation that he “grew in grace and wisdom” during these years (Luke 2:52). And yet, when he stepped forward to be baptized in the Jordan River, the scriptures tell us that a voice came down from heaven as Jesus prayed, saying: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).
Christmas teaches us more than the story of Christ’s birth; it reveals that God looked upon us and saw the goodness in us that he created, that we are worthy of sharing in his divine nature despite all the problems and ugliness and conflict in the world. Jesus was born at a time and place even more challenging and difficult than our own. And yet God became one of us, as if his divine voice were saying to all humanity that we, too, are beloved.
At the Jordan River, when Jesus rose from the waters and heard the voice from above, he had yet to heal lepers or cure the sick or give sight to the blind. He had yet to forgive sins or drive out demons or walk on water. He had yet to raise the dead, or give his own life on the cross. All he did at that moment was pray.
Perhaps the message many of us need to hear is that we don’t need to work miracles, or be superhuman, or have it all figured out to be loved by God. His love is a gift, freely given, because we are beloved. And there’s nothing we can do to make God love us any more - or any less - than he does already. May that gift of grace carry us through this New Year.
Rev. J. Christian Beretta, OSFS
Principal, Salesianum School
Wilmington, Delaware
