A Stronger Missionary

January 9, The Baptism of the Lord
Reading I Is 42:1-4, 6-7, Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10, Gospel Mt 3:13-17

John the Baptist was surprised when his cousin Jesus (note: the Son of God) was asking to be baptized by him. But Jesus pushed on, saying “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus sees his baptism as an essential step in carrying out His Father’s plan of salvation.

And so the heavens opened up and the Holy Spirit came down to Him in the form of a dove.

We are taught in catechesis that when the Holy Spirit comes down upon us during Baptism, it gives us the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Despite his “status”, Jesus needed the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill the mission that His Father gave Him.  

A little girl in Rome asked Pope Francis if people who aren't baptized are still considered to be God's children. When the pope asked her what her heart was telling her, she said that they were as well.

The pontiff agreed, and explained that God put in everyone's heart a conscience so they would recognize what is good and bad.

But the difference, he said, is that "when you were baptized, the Holy Spirit entered into that conscience and reinforced your belonging to God and, in that sense, you became more of a daughter of God because you're a child of God like everyone, but with the strength of the Holy Spirit.”

It’s like knowing certain skills and it’s not enough that we have it, but we have to hone it through practice and further training.

This is why we are taught that when we are baptized, we are missionaries-we have a mission: we are called to follow Jesus Christ and and to be a missionary. To be a missionary does not only mean that we go to remote areas and preach there (although we can do that, too). Mothers are missionaries too. They are the first catechists of their children by teaching them the basic prayers. A teacher is also a missionary because she inspires her students to be the best they can be without hurting others. There is a student who is also a missionary because after school, she goes to impoverished areas to teach street children how to read and write. Health workers, whenever they can, give comfort to those who are sick but cannot be visited by their family and friends in the hospital. We are all missionaries in our own way, but we should always be guided by the Holy Spirit.  Unfortunately, we forget about this once the Christening and the party that follows it is over.

The late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said: “this is exactly what happens in Baptism: he draws us towards himself, he draws us into true life. He leads us through the often murky sea of history, where we are frequently in danger of sinking amid all the confusion and perils. In Baptism he takes us, as it were, by the hand, he leads us along the path that passes through the Red Sea of this life and introduces us to everlasting life, the true and upright life.”