Entering into the mystery of our salvation: a homily for The Baptism of Our Lord

‘And the heaven was opened’: entering into the mystery of our salvation

At the early Eucharist on The Baptism of Our Lord, 2022

Luke 3:15-17,21-22

Along the banks of the River Jordan, it was a routine, everyday occurrence during the ministry of John the Baptist. Earlier in the chapter of Luke’s Gospel from which we have heard in our Gospel reading today, Luke tells us: “the crowds … came out to be baptized by [John]”.

Jesus of Nazareth was one of the crowd. That itself points us back to the events we have just celebrated at Christmas. The Child born in the manger is one of us. We know that Jesus, Son of Mary, is, yes, one of the crowd like us.

But this, of course, is not all.

At Christmas we celebrated what we affirm week by week in the words of the Creed. That Jesus of Nazareth is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father” - and that he “was incarnate from the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man”.

We know that the Son of Mary is the Son of God, the Word made flesh.

He comes to John the Baptist and the waters of the Jordan as, yes, one of the crowd, truly human, but that is not all. He comes as the Word made flesh, God Incarnate.

And so, at the Baptism of Jesus events occur that have not happened at other baptisms John has performed.

One of the phrases Luke uses powerfully summarises what this day reveals, what is occurring in the Son of Mary who is Son of God, why God became flesh in Jesus of Nazareth.

Luke says that, as Jesus emerged from the waters of the Jordan, “the heaven was opened”.

This is why today is a pivotal event in the Gospels and in the Church’s yearly celebration of the life of Jesus Christ.

It both looks back - to Christmas and the Epiphany - and looks forward to the events which will unfold for us in the weeks to come: miracles performed, disciples called, wilderness, face towards Jerusalem, cross, passion, death, resurrection. What is the meaning of all this?

Today, in the Baptism of Our Lord, we see the purpose of God in the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ: “the heaven was opened”.

A world drowned in sin and death, humanity disordered and disoriented by sin, shadowed and darkened by death, beholds in Jesus Christ, the Son of Mary who is Son of God, the grace, peace, and reconciliation of God: “the heaven was opened”.

It began at Christmas and Epiphany. It is unfolded in the Sundays after Epiphany in miracles, parables, and the calling of disciples. Then we will journey through Lent to Cross and Empty Tomb.

And by entering into this, in heart, mind, and soul, through prayer and silence, Word and Sacrament, you and I see heaven opened, for we in our brokenness and failure will know afresh God’s gracious reconciliation.

So, on this day when we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, let us with deepened joy and renewed faith prepare ourselves to again see heaven opened, as we enter into the mysteries that are our peace, our hope, and our salvation.

(The contemporary icon of the Theophany is by Greta Leśko.)

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