Lord, Re-Baptize Our World Again

Homily On the Baptism of the Lord 

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR 

Holy Names Catholic Church Memphis, Tennessee 38107

Today, we celebrate the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today Jesus, although sinless and guiltless, entered into the waters of baptism. Today, he humbled himself by allowing John the Baptist to baptize him. John initially refused to baptize him with the argument that it was he (John) that needs to be baptized by Jesus. Sisters and brothers, today we celebrate the baptism of the One John himself describes as “mightier than himself”, the One John describes further as One he is not even worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. It is very important to understand that Jesus does not necessarily need a baptism. As the only Begotten Son of God, he does not need a baptism. As the Son of Mary, who (Mary) was preserved from the stain of original sin, who was immaculately conceived for the sake of Jesus, he does not need a baptism. As One who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, he does not need a baptism. As the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, therefore God, he does not need a baptism. As the One through whom everything came to be, as the Creator, he does not need a baptism. The one who says of himself, “I and my Father are one” cannot need a baptism. The bright morning star, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the Prince of peace, the Holy one of Israel, the one described by the Book of Revelation as “the One who is, who was and who is to come” cannot need a baptism. The one described by Sacred Scripture as “The same yesterday, today and forever” cannot need a baptism. Since Sacred Scripture says “he was like us in all things but sin,” it there means he does not need a baptism. The One who came from above, who knows the Father, who reveals Him to human beings cannot necessarily need a baptism. If Jesus didn’t need a baptism, why then did he submit himself to the baptism of John? 

Why did he submit himself to John the Baptist to be baptized? John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance; repentance from sin. Since John the Baptist’s baptism was for repentance from sin, and Jesus was sinless, therefore needing no repentance; it there means he needed no baptism. The Lord was not affected by the guilt of Original Sin. He had no personal sin either. Yet, he submitted to the baptism of someone who declared that he was unfit to bend low and untie the straps of his sandals. Why? By submitting himself to baptism, the Lord Jesus entered into a profound solidarity with the human race. This solidarity is not just a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the pains of so many people. Jesus came down to our level and experienced exactly what has been our lot. He made a firm and persevering determination to commit himself to the common good of all persons. Solidarity is linked to love for others especially the poor. What took place on the cross started in the River Jordan, the place of Jesus’ baptism. The Lord went down with us (in the water of baptism) that he might go up with us on the cross- the place of victory. The profound message of Good Friday began today we are celebrating the Baptism of the Lord. The love the Lord demonstrated today by going down with us in the waters of baptism reached its height, it zenith, its apogee on Good Friday. Baptism brings forth newness. It is a sacrament that washes away both original and personal sins, makes us children of God and members of the Church; it gives us the grace to follow the Lord daily. Baptism ends the cycle of sin. It ends a cycle of tragedy and pain. Baptism begins a new era. It begins a new era of hope, joy and fulfillment. Baptism reconciles us with God and with one another. Baptism brings forth healing and regeneration. Baptism brings about restoration of the locust years. Baptism is the numero uno Sacrament. It opens the door for other Sacraments. Without it, one cannot receive the other sacraments. It is the gateway to freedom. Baptism, as it were, establishes a new order, a new world, and faith-filled world. It reminds us that God loves us! 

Today, I want us to ask the Lord to baptize us and our world again with the Holy Spirit. If baptism begins a new era, if baptism ends a cycle of tragedy, if baptism reconciles us with God and with one another, then our world is in dire need of another baptism of the Holy Spirit. If baptism brings freshness and newness, then our world needs another baptism of the Holy Spirit. The New Year 2009 has just started. The year 2008 ended not so well for many people. It is a year many people will not easily forget or forget so soon. It is a year that will go down into the annals of the world history as the most dramatic year. It was a dramatic year because of the uncertainties, fears, anxiety, depression, and bitterness that characterized the year. It was a dramatic year that the preacher-dreamer’s dream became a reality. It was indeed a historic year when America demonstrated that despite its dark-spots of history, she is ready to live according to the creed of its founding Fathers. The year 2008 will be remembered as the year that the world experienced an economic meltdown. Wall Street crumbled and went down on its knees consequently leading to the collapse of the Main Street. The year 2008 exposed the massive greed and selfishness in the financial institutions. Giant companies like AIG, Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac became beggars on the street of Jerusalem. The three auto-giants: GM, Chrysler, and Ford went begging like beggars in the time of Jesus. The year 2008 exposed the weakness of capitalism, the vulnerability of a nation that relies so much on deregulation. The year 2008 teaches us in a most concrete way that the rich can also cry. The year 2008 fed our world with what we never asked for or bargained for. Economic recession hit the world heavily. The once economic buoyant nations like our country America, Germany, Japan, Russia, France etc. officially declared recession. Due to this economic meltdown, Spain asked all foreigners without resident permit to leave their country. To encourage foreigners to leave for their homeland, the government even included incentive- their trip back to their countries will be paid for by the government. Apart from the financial crisis of 2008, there were also environmental crisis. It was in 2008 that cyclone heavily devastated the country of Myanmar. It was in 2008 that a monstrous earthquake wasted human lives and property in China. It was in 2008 that Russia recklessly invaded Georgia its neighbor while brandishing its arrogance and disrespect for the sovereignty of a sovereign nation. It was in 2008 that the current war between Israel and Hamas started. In 2008, my country Nigeria witnessed the highest incidents of armed robbery, kidnapping and social misbehavior. It was in 2008 that a fierce and voracious religious riot broke out in Nigeria between the Christians and Moslems thereby claiming hundreds of lives and property worth millions of Naira. No nation on earth was spared the unwanted free gift of pain and agony ranging from natural disasters (earthquakes, landslide, tornadoes, thunderstorms, Tsunamis etc) and man-made disasters (political unrest, economic recession, social unrest). In 2008, while many parents kept vigil at night due to worry and anxiety and uncertainty of the future, their children cry to school not so sure whether they will be able to finish their education. In 2008, while big companies and other businesses wind up due to credit crunch, the human being which is always the subject of labor forgo their work which enables them provide for their families and dependents, contribute meaningfully to the enhancement of human society and also derive fulfillment associated with labor. The loss of work affects not only the person that works but also those that depend on his or her labor pay and to the society at large. The year 2008 will be remembered as the year that some God’s children had to chain themselves to the pillars or the walls of their houses to prevent being thrown out by the home-owners or the insurance companies. It will also be remembered as the year that a financial mogul by name Madoff lived up to the true meaning of his name when he made off with both individuals and cooperate money. Another year has just started. 

As we celebrate the baptism of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we pray that he baptizes our world again with the baptism of the Holy Spirit just as John the Baptist has predicted “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” We need this baptism again, but not in sacramental form. We need this renewal; we need the newness the Holy Spirit brings. We need change in our world. If we cannot control or stop natural disasters, we can at least reduce or get rid of man-made disasters. We can at least handle the situations created by natural disasters when they occur. We can take care of people inflicted by these earthquakes and tornadoes better. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism of fire. We need this fire to burn out the greed in us, the selfishness that made us overlook those we ought to cater for. We need this fire to burn out the greed that brought Wall Street on its knees. Our world needs this fire to burn out those things that lead nations to war like terrorism and illegal invasion. Jesus went down into the water of baptism with us so that he may take us up to the cross of victory. May his words on the cross “It is finished” reconcile people with people, nations with nations, and human beings with God.

This homily was written in the Carribbean Island of St. Kitts and Nevis where I went to spend the New Year with my younger brother.