Nothing Ordinary in Baptism

But Jesus answered him ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ (Matthew 3.15).  The texts today in the Roman Catholic Lectionary are proclaimed today in Christian Churches to mark the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The Gospel of Matthew records the reluctance of John, the one who must decrease to baptize Jesus, the One who must increase. Paddy Gilger, S.J., writing for Creighton University on-line ministry, suggests that the self humbling of God to be Incarnate in human flesh is shown at a deeper level in the fulfillment of all righteousness through a sign that Jesus, though sinless, walks with the children of God even in their sin and their movement to reconciliation. The quality of the One who is anointed King as Son of Yahweh, which Friar JudeWinkler links to Psalm 110, is to accept everything the Father plans for Him. The passage of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah describes the One who moves without breaking the reed or quenching the feeble flame.  Like the inspired movement of Peter to visit the home of the unclean Gentile Cornelius we are to be open to the grace spoken of by Dr. Bruce Epperly which urges us to witness to the reality that there is much salvation outside the church and its rituals and doctrines.  God breaks down every theological and sociological barrier to save the lost and vulnerable. Our baptism is the acceptance of the grace of the Holy Spirit which will invite us to be followers of Jesus and members of His Body. Paddy Gilger identifies the hesitation we have to move out from the sheltered warmth of the Christmas season of gifts and good will into the days numbered in an ordinary way, known as Ordinary Time, through which our giftedness will be given opportunity to be the light which attracts others to hear from God that they are His beloved children in whom He is well pleased.