January 11, 2026 Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord
Daily Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17
Children of God, When Saint Francis Xavier arrived in India in 1542, he walked from village to village along the Fishery Coast in South India, especially among the Parava people, learning their customs, teaching basic prayers, and patiently explaining the faith. Xavier baptized thousands, sometimes in large numbers. He would ring a small bell to gather children and adults, taught them the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, and invited them into a new life in Christ. For him, baptism was the doorway to discipleship and mission. By the end of 1544 he reached the western shore of India; in November and December of that year he is reported to have baptized 10,000 persons. Wow!
From this vivid missionary story, the gospel of Matthew invites us to look again at the baptism of Jesus as the starting point of God’s saving work revealed to the world. What does the baptism of Jesus teach us?
First, the Baptism of Jesus reveals to us his profound humility. Jesus comes to the Jordan to be baptized by John, even if he has no sin to repent from (Matthew 3:13–15). In this deep humility, Jesus chooses to stand with sinners, entering fully into the human condition. This teaches us that baptism calls us to humble presence. To be baptized is not to be above others, but to walk with them, bringing God’s love into ordinary, difficult, and sometimes messy realities.
Second, the Baptism of Jesus reveals to us his identity. After Jesus is baptized, the heavens open, the Spirit descends, and the Father’s voice declares, “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:16–17). Baptism reveals identity before it reveals mission. Our baptism works the same way. Before we are called to do anything for God, we are first named as God’s beloved.
Children of God, the baptism of Jesus and the missionary life of Saint Francis Xavier remind us that baptism sends us outward. We are baptized not only into faith, but into mission: into humility, service, and courageous witness.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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