I read this story of two pastors and one priest talking about the problem of cats invading their churches. The Baptist minister said he put the cats in bags and threw them in a nearby river. In spite of that, the cats survived and there were twice as many there the next week. The Methodist minister said they were not in a position to harm any of God’s creation. So he confided they humanely trapped the cats and set them free many miles outside town. But three days later, the cats were back. But the Catholic priest bragged that he had the best and most effective solution. He said, “I simply baptized them and I haven’t seen them in church since then!” This is just a joke but it shows a sad reality that after baptism many of us Christians are never seen in church again.
This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We might ask ourselves: Why did sinless Jesus need to be baptized when baptism was a sign of repentance from sin? There are two answers we can give to this question: First of all, being baptized in the River Jordan, Jesus shows his total solidarity with us. As He came to be one of us, Christ identified Himself with the people in their search for God. In other words, Jesus allows Himself to be baptized too because He wants us to feel that He is one with us in our longing and desire for God. He is baptized not because He is conscious of sin and of the need of repentance, but because He knows that He too must identify Himself with the people moving towards God. Secondly, through his baptism, Jesus is being officially commissioned to begin his public work of teaching, healing, liberating enslaved souls up to the climatic moment of his passion, death and resurrection.
Today is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on our own baptism. When Jesus was baptized the Father spoke and said, you are my Son, the Beloved, my favor rests on you. When we are baptized the Father says over each of us, you are my son/daughter, my beloved, my favor rests on you. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit when he was baptized in the Jordan and we are anointed with oil of Chrism during our baptism and like Jesus we receive the Holy Spirit also. Therefore, the baptism empowers us to do the good works Jesus did, to spread the Kingdom of God. In other words, each one of us is called to be a living witness to the gospel: to be the salt of the earth, to live as children of God, and to be light for all. That is the power of the Holy Spirit received at baptism. Baptism counts. Baptism makes difference. So, let us today renew our faith and our commitment to follow Jesus.
