I know it is well after I gave it, but better late than never right? ;) My notes for the homily is as follows:
I am sure that we have all had the experience of reading something or watching a movie or TV show, and then in talking about it or in reading it again we discover something that we missed, or there is phrase or saying that we read or heard in slightly different context producing a deeper thought on what was actually meant. It is no different in Sacred Scripture – no matter how many times I read it or hear, or how familiar we are with the story – each time I spend time with it in prayer, I always glean something new from it.
Take for instance our celebration today of the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan river. I am fairly confident that most of us in here today could give a summary of how Jesus was baptized – what John the Baptist’s objection to baptizing Jesus was, the events that occurred – cloud coming over Jesus, dove resting on his head, voice from the cloud – “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” I have to admit, the first time I read this passage to prepare for the homily today, I took a cursory glance at it – I know the themes present, I know the importance of baptism – preaching on this topic is not going to be difficult….but then I read it again – and as I was reading it and praying with it a line that Jesus said caused deeper reflection – that line was – “Allow it for now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
The deeper reflection – who was the “us” referring to? For myself, I didn’t really ponder this reality before, as I took it just to mean John the Baptist and Jesus – John as the one who “prepares the way for the Lord.” Part of that preparation would be opening people’s hearts to hear the message of God – and so even in the Jesus’ open action of ministry – his baptism – he allows John to end his preparation – this gesture of baptizing the Messiah, of Baptizing Jesus was the “final step” so to speak of preparing peoples hearts to hear the message of God. But as I was reading it this past week – the deeper thought I had – “What if the ‘us’ in Jesus’ message is really referring to the Trinity – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
And this entirely possible along with my previous understanding, because when the Matthew uses the term “Righteousness” in his Gospel it refers to either to the proper moral conduct of Christians being obedient to God’s will or it refers to God’s saving plan. This latter understanding of the fulfillment of all righteousness is what I want to delve deeper with you in the next few moments.
What came to me in that time of prayer was really this focus on how to understand God’s role, and God’s action in our lives. Especially as we start this new year, it seems that there is always this great focus on our own activity – I need to eat healthier, I need to get more exercise, I need to this – and that seems to be a topic in many of the “self-help” books – there is always a focus on what we need to do. And there is a place for that – even in our faith, in our relationship with God – there is a place for what we need to do – righteousness for our understanding – as it was mentioned above is being obedient to God. So we need to know what God is asking of us, we need to hear and read his word, we have the Church to guide us in our activity – so that we know we are being obedient.
But how often in our prayer, how in our lives do we reflect on what God’s idea of righteousness towards us is? By that I mean – is there a way that God acts righteously towards us. I think the common and true answer is, “yes, he saved us from sin.” But, the danger in our spiritual lives is to think that God’s action only took place in the past – his action, this reality of “fulfillment of all righteousness” is already completed – so we look at our faith as a means of “self-help.” The reality of this phrase of Jesus – Allow this for now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” is that God’s action is still present in our lives – especially through the sacraments. Baptism is not a “one and done” receiving of grace – it opens us to receive other graces – through the other sacraments and through actual graces – moments in life where God gives us strength, aid, and guidance in everyday life situations. In our approach to God through out baptism, may we allow Him to fulfill all righteousness, may we invite him into our daily lives, so that every activity of ours, every work we do begins and ends with Him. And may that draw us closer to Him in this life and achieve the greatest grace – of being with Him forever in Heaven, where we shall see him as He is.
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