We have become New Creation in Christ, through our Baptism

The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ commemorates the mission and identity of Jesus Christ, as the true Messiah who has come to redeem the world. Also, by the virtue of Jesus’ Baptism, the Father bore witness (through the symbol of the dove and the Voice from Heaven), that Jesus is the true Son of God, who existed with the Father from the beginning of time.

Another significant thing in the Scripture about the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan (especially in the Gospel of Mark) is about the tearing open of Heaven. The Scripture did not just say the Heaven opened, but rather, the Heaven tore open. That statement brings us to the image of Isaiah chapter 64:1, where Isaiah, representing the people of Israel, cried to God and pleaded with God to look away from the sins of the people and show them Mercy. Also, it was a cry pleading God to remember how He led his people out of slavery through Moses, and how He associated Himself with Abraham and Jacob. A spiritual and sincere plea for true reconciliation with God through amendments of life and ways with God. Practically, It is an image, expressing the prayer of the people of Israel invoking the Mercy of God once again, that was considered closed because of their sins. So, if the people felt that Heaven was closed for them because of their sins, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ has opened Heaven through Baptism. Evidently, John the Baptists has described Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Baptism, therefore, washes away the first sin we inherited from Adam and Eve, which God is the only one capable of taking that original sin away by Himself alone. That means, by the virtue of our own baptism, we are spiritually recreated in Christ. The only time we are born again in life, is the time one gets baptized in Christ. Any Baptism, accepted by the church, is never repeated in life. We only renew our baptismal promises, and each time we renew our baptismal promises we reclaimed the Joy of the Gospel, and the power of God’s Grace in our lives is strengthened by the Lord. By the virtue of our baptism also, we have access to God directly, to eternal life, and the life of Christ on earth. Baptism opens the door for other sacraments. One cannot receive any Sacrament if not yet baptized. That is why it is called the Sacrament of Initiation. We are initiated through Baptism into the life of Christ. Three Sacraments that fully initiate us or fully welcome us into the life of Christ are: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist.

Another important Image identified in the Baptism of our Lord, is the Image of the Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove. This reference of the Spirit of God is traced back to the Old Testaments in the creation of the account of Genesis 1:1-2, where it was mentioned that the Spirit was hovering over the face of the earth, to sanctify, and to usher in the creation of light and life. Another emphasis about doves in the Old Testaments account is on the episode of Noah and his family. We know that after God has destroyed the first world because of sin, Noah and his family were saved. To ascertain when the flood had dried up, Noah sent out a dove that came back with the branch of olive. When the dove came back with a branch of olive, it was an indication that peace had been established. Dove also symbolizes peace.

So, the emphasis of spirit in the form of a dove over Jesus was an indication of Jesus as a new creation. The Baptism of Jesus Christ therefore, opened the door for peace, reconciliation, and the recreation of human beings to the purpose of our creation. That is why St. Paul says that all those who are baptized and recreated in Jesus Christ should put up a new self. 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, our core Challenge as baptized Catholics is to know who we are and to put up a new self that represents our nature as the body of Christ. We are to reclaim our baptismal promises and put up this New Year of 2022, a new image of Jesus Christ the Savior. Jesus Himself, said to Nicodemus, unless one is born again, the person will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

We are to be simple, innocent, and humble of heart like the dove. We are to become a beginner in the faith today as we reflect on this message and reclaim the joy of the Gospel. We are to employ the spirit of Jesus Christ, in our character and attitude everyday of our life.

Finally, the Father has declared, He is pleased with the ways of the Son, Jesus Christ. By saying that, the Father has invited us to live our own lives like that of the Son, Jesus the Savior. Therefore, anyone who will be able to start this New Year of 2022, to let go of old ways of life, and starts to walk as Jesus walk, behave the way Jesus behave, approaches things in the manner of Jesus,  talk the way Jesus talk, avoid gossiping and tearing apart, avoid being negative and be more positive in life and about things, being  hopeful, try to love the way He loves, cares the way He cares, forgive the way He forgives, listen the way Jesus listen to us, avoid holding on to grudges of any kind, be truthful the way Jesus does, ne joyful as possible because Christ is with you, that person will certainly attracts the Favors of the Father, and the Father’s Favor will dwell with you.

May we now be open to true repentance and conversion and renew our Baptismal promises in Spirit and in truth and turn towards the ways of Jesus the Savior, so that He will be pleased with us, and His Favors will bless our lives permanently. Christ will always approach you and I, as the one whom the Father is well pleased!