Homilies

FEAST OF THE LORD'S BAPTISM: CONSIDERING OUR IDENTITY AND MISSION

When I came out from my mother’s womb, I became a member of our family. So, all human beings are members of their clans. But when we were baptized by the priest using the Trinitarian formula, “Mario, I baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” we have become members of God’s family. In other words, regardless of skins colors, races, customs,  and traditions  we are all children of God.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism. The Lord Jesus was baptized by John. When he was baptized, according to the gospel, the skies opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in visible sign like a dove. Then a voice from heaven was heard saying, “You are my beloved son, on you my favor rests” (Lk 3:22).

Jesus, as true God and true man, seemed to have a lack of knowledge from the beginning that he was God. His identity as a Son of God was gradually unfolded in a unique and special way through his constant relationship with his Father. Until such time when he was baptized, he heard about his identity through a voice which came out from heaven. From that time on, his unique identity became clear to him and he knew too of his special mission. 

We can also take this opportunity to think of our own baptism. In our case, we don’t know who baptized unless somebody had told us. In our country, we baptize infants because of ‘ecclesiae fide’ or faith of the Church. The priest and the community assure to teach the Christian doctrines to the children. When they reach the age of reason, they will receive the sacrament of confirmation. At this time they will own the faith. It is no longer the faith of the elders, but they themselves profess from their hearts. Indeed, they are sons and daughters of the Lord.

When one is baptized, one shares in the three functions of Christ, namely, as priest, prophet, and king. As priests, we pray whether individually or communally in the name of Jesus. As prophets, we preach and witness to the word of God. And as kings, for we are called to serve others. As the Lord Jesus says, “I did not come to be served but to serve.”

Let us recall that the baptism of Jesus had led him to twofold awareness: identity and mission. This is also something that we need to consider all through our life as followers of Christ. First, our baptism gives us a new identity, we have become Christians. We need to carry this identity always, and must be proud of this identity. Second, as Christians, we have a mission to fulfill. By virtue of baptism and confirmation, we promise to God to share the faith and the gospel to others. Christianity is not about indifference or lukewarmness. Christianity calls for an active involvement on our part, to demonstrate and live out this faith that we received. Christians who failed to fulfill this mission are people who have no clarity of who they are.

I have been a missionary in Taiwan for some years already. Our mission is still far from accomplishment. We have much more things to do as Christians. Why? In Taiwan, we often hear this from long-serving missionaries, “When Taiwan was still a poor country, many people were converted to and had embraced Christianity. Now that they are already rich, the number of Christians has decreased.” We can think of some factors: secularization, modernization, etc. The mission in Taiwan remains a big challenge for us missionaries because there is not yet a deeper correspondence between the people’s identity and mission.


                                             [Fr JAGS JUGADORA MSP
                                                Diocese of Taichung, Taiwan]

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