For many people, whenever they hear that Jesus was baptized, one of the first questions that come to their minds is: why? Why did Jesus have to be baptized? If Baptism is the sacrament that cleanses us from sin and re-establishes us in relationship with God, why did Jesus, who was born without sin and was always in relationship with God, need to be baptized?

Now obviously the answer is that Jesus did not have to be baptized for the same reasons that we need to be baptized. Jesus did not need to be baptized in order to have His sins forgiven. He did not need to be baptized to be re-established in relationship with God. The reason that Jesus was baptized was entirely different from the reasons we are baptized. Jesus was baptized in order that He could teach us by His example. He came into the world to be the way, the truth and the life for all believers. His baptism allows Him to teach us how we are to be reconciled with the Father and the manner in which we are to share in the Divine life that He came to share with us. As the Holy Spirit comes down upon Him at His baptism, it announces to us that we will be given this gift of the Holy Spirit when we are baptized. As the Father proclaims that Jesus is His beloved Son when He is baptized, we learn that through our own baptisms we become God’s beloved children and are to call upon Him as our Father through the graces of this great Sacrament. Jesus takes up His mission after His baptism so that we might understand that through our own baptisms we too have received a mission and are called to be Disciples of Christ through the celebration of this great sacrament.

It is because of how Jesus taught His disciples at the beginning of His mission through the example that He gave them that they were able to understand what He meant at the end of His mission on earth when He instructed them to: “Go out into the whole world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The reason Jesus sends His disciples out to baptize is to make disciples of all people. It is not often that we emphasize the fact that those who are baptized are to be disciples. To be a disciple means to be one who attempts to imitate and follow the example of the teacher. Before He begins His mission of sharing the Good News, Jesus is Himself baptized to show His followers that as a result of their own baptism they are also called to share in His work and His life. By His life and His example Jesus teaches all Christians how they are to live their lives by sharing in His mission. It is the work of all Christians to share in Christ’s work and mission.

About sixty years ago the Church celebrated one of the greatest councils in its entire history. The Second Vatican Council was a pastoral council that was charged with the mission of examining how the Catholic Faith could be lived in our modern age. One of the great accomplishments of this Council was to attempt to return to those who were not ordained the proper sense of mission and responsibility that belongs to all members of the Church because of their baptism. For many centuries people were under the impression that only priests had a role in the Church and that the role of those who were not ordained was to simply sit in the pews. The Council articulated the great dignity that belongs to all Christians because of their Baptism and the responsibility that this entails in the life of the Church. There are within the Church two types of priesthood. These two types are: the common priesthood of all the Baptized and the ordained priesthood of the clergy. The clergy, who make up the ordained priesthood, are to serve the faithful members of the common priesthood so that they may be built up into the Body of Christ and fulfill their mission in the world. Christ’s mission in the world is not to be lived only by the clergy, but by all of the faithful, as they are served by the clergy and built up to live their missions in the world. The goal of the Second Vatican Council was to challenge all Catholics to take an active and lively role in the life of the Church. The Council wanted all Catholics to understand that because of their baptism, like Jesus our teacher we all have a mission.

There are many different ways that a Christian can live his or her mission. Some of these ways depend upon our gifts, talents and the availability of time that we have at different stages in our lives. However, the idea that it is sufficient to simply sit in our pew for an hour on Sunday and think of ourselves as a good Christian, is not something that finds a lot of support in the documents of the Second Vatican Council. The Council invites all Christians to see their Faith and their Christian Community as a way of life and something important to be involved in.

This year, as a way of reflecting on what baptism should mean for each of us, I would like to spend a little time reflecting on what are called the explanatory rites which take place at Baptism. These rites take place after a person has been baptized. They are not essential for the Sacrament of Baptism, but they are intended to explain what happens to each of us at Baptism and what Baptism ought to mean for each of us. There are four explanatory rites and they are: 1) the anointing with Chrism after Baptism; 2) the clothing with the white garment; 3) the handing on of the lighted candle; and 4) the Ephphatha. Each one of these rites articulates what is expected for the baptized person and the manner in which Baptism ought to influence the way that the baptized person lives. For that reason, I would like to say a word or two about each rite.

1. The Anointing with Chrism after Baptism: After a child is baptized, he or she is anointed with Chrism. This anointing, like the Old Testament anointing of kings, queens and prophets, takes place on the crown of the head. Its accompanied by a prayer that states: “Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has freed you from sin and given you new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, He now anoints you with the Chrism of salvation, so that joined to his people, you may remain as members of Christ, Priest, Prophet and King unto eternal life.” This points to the reality that each baptized person shares in Christ’s priestly, prophetic and kingly mission. Like Christ, we are to offer our lives to God in a sacrifice of love sharing His priestly mission. Following His prophetic mission, the Christian is to preach about God’s love and invitation to turn away from sin. Each Christian shares in Christ’s kingly mission by striving to build the Kingdom of God. It is important to remember that Christ means “the anointed one” and Christians are an anointed people.
2. The Clothing in the White Garment: After Baptism, we become a new creation and are invited to put on Christ to cover the old and sinful ways of our life. This speaks of the reality that the baptized are to turn away from sin and always remember their dignity in Christ—as members of His body the Church.
3. The Handing on of the Candle: After baptism, the newly baptized receive a candle lit from the Easter candle. This emphasizes the reality that the baptized are to follow the light of Christ in their lives. They are also to make Christ’s light present in the world. Each one of us might think that we cannot make a difference. However, each small act of Christ’s love in the world, can change the darkness to a world illumined by love. There is a song that has the verse, “This little light of mine, I am going to let it shine…” The Christian is to make a difference in the world by letting his or her light shine.
4. The Ephphatha: “Ephphatha” is the word that Jesus spoke to the deaf and the mute man when he healed him. It means “be open.” For most who are baptized, they can hear and speak. However, the Christian is to hear God’s word as different from all other words. The world will often say that people are only valuable because they are wealthy, beautiful and powerful. The Christian is to hear God’s word and know that people are valuable because they were created by God in His image and likeness. Christians are to proclaim that all people are valuable. This also why they are to speak for justice and the rights of the oppressed and poor. We are to speak of God’s love and care for all persons as well.

By reflecting a little on each of these explanatory rites for baptism, I would invite you to consider how well you are responding to your baptismal call and what needs to change in your life in order for you to do so more faithfully.

The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord not because Jesus needed to be baptized. We celebrate it so that we might be reminded that because of our Baptisms we have a mission to follow the example of Christ. Because of our Baptisms, we are invited to live as active members of Christ’s body, the Church. Jesus was baptized to show us how to live our Baptism. At the end of this Christmas season, the only thing that those of us who have been baptized need to do is follow Christ’s good example by embracing our missions. At the end of His mission on earth Jesus sent His disciples out to baptize and make disciples. It is now time to answer the call to discipleship.

Fr. Michael McGourty
Pastor—St. Peter’s Parish, Toronto

This reflection is based on the readings for the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord—Year A: Isaih 42: 1-4, 6-7; Acts 1034-38; and Matthew 3: 13-17.