Homily: Friday after Epiphany - Getting ready for the Baptism

At the conclusion of our observance of the liturgical season of Christmas, and marking the beginning of ordinary time, this weekend the Church will celebrate the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord Jesus.

Our readings this morning are giving us a little foretaste of the feast to coming.  We heard of the water and blood and spirit which testify to who Jesus is.  We shall hear this weekend how when baptized by John in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, and the voice of the Father from heaven said, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Our Gospel today also hinted at the importance of baptism.  When the man full of leprosy came to Jesus to be healed he said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”  And the Lord said, “I do will it” and the man was immediately cure of his illness.

This reading too points to baptism, for the Lord instituted the Sacrament of Baptism in his Church for the washing away of sin—he wished to make us clean through the waters of baptism.  

People with leprosy were driven out of their community, alienated from their families because of their contagious, disfiguring disease.  And now healed, the man could be reconciled with those whom he was distanced from because of his disease.  

And in baptism what happens?  Original sin has alienated from God, the poison of sin leading us to strife, and division, and violence throughout history.  And through baptism we are washed clean of sin, reconciled to God, and brought into the new communion of the Church.  The root cause of our tendency to violence and selfishness and division is healed.  Sure the effects are still felt within us, but the root cause is healed, and we now spend our Christian lives continuously being healed of any remnant divisiveness in us through God’s grace in the Sacraments, through prayer, and acts of charity.

So as we prepare for the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, what’s our challenge?  To reflect on the dignity of our own baptism?  To consider the parts of our lives where the poison of sin still lingers? To open ourselves to the continuing unfolding of baptismal grace in our lives, that we may be led to deeper imitation of the Lord Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.