The First Sunday After the Epiphany: The Baptism of the Lord
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Fr. David Wilcox
St. Mary Magdalene, Belton
“ Thus says the Lord who created you, and he who formed you: Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, and you are mine When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..”
+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have you ever watched The Chosen? It’s a series by Angel Studios that portrays Jesus and His disciples, bringing the stories of the Gospel to life. It’s truly well done, and I highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it!
I discovered and fell in love with the show during the COVID lockdown. The first season focuses on the call of the disciples and their relationship with Jesus. One of the episodes introduces the character of Mary Magdalene. In the episode, a young Mary Magdalene is comforted by her sick father after a nightmare. He encourages her to pray these words—Adonai’s words from the prophet Isaiah—whenever she is afraid: “Thus says the Lord who created you and he who formed you: Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.” Mary treasures those words throughout her life, anchoring her faith in their message.
The episode goes on to show that Mary eventually faces dark times, feeling lost and full of despair, seeking solace in all the wrong places until she is ready to end it all. That is until she is found by Jesus, who calls her by name and gives her hope with the same words from Isaiah, the words her father taught her so many years before: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, and you are mine.” This scene gave me a new appreciation for the passage from Isaiah that we heard in the first reading this morning.
In Isaiah’s words, we find both a call and a promise—a promise that finds its ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Holy Baptism. Through baptism into Christ and a life lived in a relationship with Him, we discover the full depth of this promise. No matter what is happening in the world or in our lives, this promise remains true: we need not fear. For God has redeemed us, called us by name, and claimed us as His children through baptism.
Through the words of the prophet, God assures us that when we pass through the waters, He will be with us. This truth, foretold so long ago, is the one we remember and celebrate today on this feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Last week, I mentioned that this season of Epiphany is a journey through the scriptures that teaches us who Jesus is and what He is about. So, it is fitting that our first encounter with Jesus on this journey is His first public appearance as an adult.
In coming to John the Baptist to be baptized in the River Jordan, Jesus fully identified with our fallen humanity. Because He is fully divine—the Son of God, perfect and without sin—Jesus did not need to be baptized, yet He chose to be baptized. He chose to take on our humanity fully and completely, bearing our sins and the sins of the world.
By being baptized, the Son of God embraced our pain, suffering, and even death. Through this act, He became one with us, able to say, “My fellow humans,” and even, “My fellow sinners.” In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus shows us how far He will go to identify with us.
The Baptism of Jesus also reveals to us, for the first time, the mystery of God’s triune nature. As Jesus, the Son of God, emerges from the waters of the Jordan, the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove, symbolizing His anointing and divine mission. Simultaneously, the voice of the Father resounds from heaven, declaring, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” At this moment, the three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are revealed in perfect harmony, each playing a distinct role while remaining united in essence. This event underscores the relational nature of God and His redemptive plan, marking the inauguration of Jesus’ public ministry and affirming His identity as the Messiah.
Jesus is not only the divine Son of God; He is also fully human as the Son of Mary. As a human, the mission before Him was incredibly challenging. His baptism became the pivotal moment where He found the foundation and strength for what lay ahead. Jesus began His public work on this earth by first overcoming the devil’s temptations in the wilderness. Then, He proclaimed the kingdom of God in word and deed, called disciples to follow Him, and ultimately died on the cross for the sins of the world.
Just as the disciples were called to follow Jesus, we, too, are invited to embark on that journey, which begins in the waters of baptism. Through baptism, we are joined with Christ, and His baptism becomes our own. In uniting Himself with humanity through His baptism, He made it possible for us to be united with Him through ours.
Just as the people of Israel were led out of slavery in Egypt through the waters of the Red Sea, baptism frees us from the slavery of sin. In baptism, we are buried with Christ and raised with Him to new and abundant life. As the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked as God’s own forever. In baptism, we receive adoption as God’s children, His beloved, with whom He is well pleased.
Because we are united with Christ in baptism, we are called to continue His work in the world. Like Jesus, we are asked to face down our temptations and deny our selfish desires. We are called to embody the love of God and remind the world that there is a better way to live. We are redeemed by God to work toward the liberation of this world. Like St. John the Baptist, we are called to announce the coming kingdom and to point to Jesus. We are called by name to help the world know that they, too, are called by name—called to follow Jesus, to know His love, and to live in the freedom He offers.
In just a few moments, we will remember our own baptisms by renewing our baptismal vows. It is an opportunity to give thanks that Jesus has chosen to identify with us and for all the blessings God has given us through this Sacrament. Let us take this opportunity to recommit ourselves to the work God has given us to do and remember not to be afraid. For God has redeemed us; He has called us each by name, and we are His.
