Bridget O’Driscoll OP
12th January 2025, Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord
Today, this feast of the Baptism of Jesus, marks the end of the Christmas Season.
It’s all over they say!
Far from being over today’s feast is about beginnings!
The crowds had come out to John to be baptised, a baptism for repentant people to obtain forgiveness of sins. You brood of vipers John called these people. He urged them to change their ways, to produce fruits of a true change of heart. When asked what they were to do John calls all to a commitment of solidarity, they were to act justly. He reminds the crowd that it is not enough to walk under the flag of the God of Abraham, they have to live the message. People came from all directions seeking pardon. He awakes the expectation of the Messiah in the people. Could John be the Messiah? No, but One is coming who will Baptise with the Holy Spirit.
Now with all the people who came to be baptised Jesus too was Baptised. Jesus had no need of repentance, of forgiveness, but here he stands in solidarity with all of us who are in need of forgiveness. We are told that while he was praying the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This was a decisive moment for Jesus. He is now full of the Holy Spirit 4:1. He leaves this place and after a time of fasting and prayer, and being tempted to adopt an easy life, he begins his preaching ministry to the marginalized people of his time and place.
Today, in this new beginning I hear again ‘you are my beloved daughter, with you I am well pleased’’ urging me on to be grateful, to look out for my neighbour, to continue the mission of Jesus and of the Congregation: `My Mission as a Dominican woman is to study, share, proclaim and witness to the liberating Word of God is order that right relationships be restored between God, people and the Earth where these are broken due to lack of knowledge and the distortion of the truth.’