The First Luminous Mystery

The Baptism of Jesus

By May/June 2009

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Commitment

“After all the people had been baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.’” Luke 3:21-22

Jesus walks toward the Jordan River. He sees his cousin John standing in the river, looking thin, with beard unkempt and dressed in animal skins. John is surrounded by people also standing in the water. Jesus feels it is time to begin his ministry. He wants to make a symbolic act, to undergo this rit­ual as a way of beginning his prophetic role. Jesus thinks of the visitation of their mothers Mary and Elizabeth so many years ago.

Baptism was total immersion. It was a wash­ing away of the past, of all sins—a total letting go in order to begin life anew. The baptized person returned to God, radically committing themselves to God’s law. Jesus was without sin, but he wanted to undergo what the people experienced. John accepts to baptize Jesus. The skies open and a voice is heard; it is God the Father proclaiming love for his Son, giving his son his blessing. Jesus emerges from the water, ready to begin his mission.

How do we understand our baptism? Was I baptised as a child? Who taught me the meaning of my baptism? Can I remember the moment when I accepted my baptism? Do I feel a sense of mission in my baptism? What is my particular mission?

Mission Call

Many Scarboro missionaries celebrate the sacrament of baptism as part of our mission work. This is particularly true of Scarboro priests who work in a parish setting. Monsignor Fraser, our founder, felt the call to go to China and to baptize people, to save them. Our understanding of this mission has changed. Our approach to calling people depends on the land to which we are sent. In places where most of the people are not Christian, we simply welcome people who feel attracted to our community and way of life. Often, a person asks to be baptized and welcomed into the Church. In lands where many are Christian, we face the challenge of convincing parents who baptize their children that this is a serious commitment, one that involves weekly participation in the community and catechism for their children. In all cases, we believe that baptism means taking on a mis­sion, as Jesus did. It is the starting point for a life of faith and practice.

As we pray the rosary, let us ask for a deeper understanding of our bap­tism and our own particular mission. Let us pray for those recently bap­tized, that they may feel joy and courage in their commitment.

Amazon Word

It’s extremely hot, about 35 degrees C. The small church is full and several infants are already restless, crying and struggling in their mothers’ arms. One by one the children are baptized, their parents or godparents hold­ing them. I use a dried gourd to pour water over the child’s head. I speak the words in the Makuxi language, liter­ally, “I wash your face in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” I wash your face in Jesus’ name. What a beautiful image.

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