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Deacon Humphrey’s Homily – January 12, 2025 – The Baptism of the Lord – 830am
Over the years, I have heard many ask why Jesus had to be baptized. After all, he didn’t have original sin or any sin to repent and he didn’t “NEED” the graces that come with Baptism. But, when Jesus chose to be baptized by John, he wanted to demonstrate that this was something different, something new. He wanted them to understand, through John’s proclamation, through the descent of the Holy Spirit and through the affirmation of God the Father, that He was now walking with them, in communion with them, as members of a new community. Jesus showed his solidarity with human beings by reconciling them to the Father. He was laying the foundation of the church to come, where all who would be baptized in his name would become priest, prophet and king, too.
I think one of the messages that we often miss when talking about Jesus’ baptism, or even any baptism, is what it does in terms of community. While we recognize that we are cleansed of all sin and we receive sacramental graces, what we sometimes forget is that Baptism brings us into community with others. I often get the comment from people who have stopped going to church, “Oh, I don’t need to go to Mass. I encounter God in nature when I go for walks or when I see something beautiful.” Or “Jesus and I are really tight. We talk all the time.” What they don’t understand is that Jesus, by his own Baptism, tells us that this is not enough. Jesus even chose to be baptized with others, sending the message that we are in this together, that we need each other and that we have a responsibility to each other. We all become part of the Body of Christ through our Baptism. And at that moment, we become connected to others, and to Jesus in a way that brings new life.
We hear the word “community” used a lot. The fact of the matter is, we are part of many “communities.” Our family, our friends, our neighborhood, our school, our city, our country. We are part of so many different “groups” where there are connections that come with rules and responsibilities. Oftentimes, we balk at this, feeling overwhelmed by so many rules. We want to remain independent and disconnected, focusing on our own rights and privileges because it’s just so much easier. But all of us, at some point in our lives, come to understand that we can’t do it alone, nor, do we really even want to be alone. We come to the realization that it is our communities that give us life and meaning. They are what sustains us.
Our Baptism, no matter how old we were when we received the graces of this sacrament, brought us into a communion with Jesus. And through him, brought us into communion with each other. That’s one of the reason Fr. Charlies loves it when we bring a new member into communion with us during Baptism at Mass, where we can all welbome the one who is entering into this new life. But we can’t forget that not only do we enter into new life here in the St. Mary community, we are becoming part of other communities that will need us to be priest, prophet, and king. What does that mean?
-That, as priests, we are asked through our efforts to bring people to God.
-As prophets, we witness to the truth through word and deed.
-And as kings, we lead others to use their talents to advance the Kingdom of God.
So today, I what to thank you for being here, in communion with each other, celebrating the Eucharist. But I also want us to challenge each other, to look at how we are being a priest, prophet and king in our other communities – in our families, at work, in our neighborhoods. How are we being in communion with others in our world – the community that is our human race?
This week we have been hearing of the tragedy taking place in California where so many have lost so much. And it was just a few months ago, when we witnessed the suffering of many who were displaced and continue to struggle from the floods in North Carolina and Tennessee. I am heartened when I see the prayers and financial assistance that are poured out to those who are suffering, by communities that recognize our responsibilities to each other. But also, let us not forget about those we personally encounter each and every day. How are we being Catholic when we walk out the doors of this church?
We need each other and we need Jesus. So, today we give thanks for the blessings we are to each other and we pray that the graces we received at our Baptism open our hearts to receiving the love of Christ, enabling us to bring new life to all we encounter. Amen.
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