Ebanghelyo: Marcos 1:7-11
At ito ang sinabi niya sa kanyang pangangaral: “Parating na kasunod ko ang gagawa nang higit pa sa akin. Hindi nga ako karapat-dapat yumuko para magkalag ng tali ng kanyang panyapak. Sa tubig ko kayo bininyagan, at sa Espiritu Santo naman niya kayo bibinyagan.”
Nang panahong iyon, dumating si Jesus mula sa Nazaret ng Galilea at bininyagan siya ni Juan sa Ilog Jordan. At pagkaahon niya mula sa tubig, nakita niyang nahawi ang langit at parang kalapating bumababa sa kanya ang Espiritu ng Diyos. At narinig mula sa langit: “Ikaw ang aking Anak, ang Minamahal, ikaw ang aking Hinirang.”
Pagninilay
Christmas time ends with the feast of the Baptism of jesus. The celebration of Jesus birth or the Incarnation ends with a new birth: mission. The baptism of Jesus immediately shows to us the character of this mission. The first reading sets the context of Jesus’ baptism: “Hanapin si Yawe habang matatagpuan, tumawag sa kanya habang siya’y malapit. Iwan ng masama ang kanyang daan,talikuran niya ang kanyang mga balak; bumaling siya kay Yawe at siya’y kahahabagan niya,sa ating Diyos na laging handang magpatawad.” Baptism is fundamentally to choose to be at the side of God. But the baptism of Jesus is not only the making of a fundamental option for God. It is also a fundamental option to be with, in solidarity with, those who need and make this option for God: the sinners, the poor, the outcast, the rejected… The option for God and option for people characterized the mission of Jesus.
The baptism of Jesus figures the consequence of the options He made: death and resurrection. He submerged into the water (act of death) and came out of it (back to life). The baptism of Jesus defined his life and mission. The second reading for today’s liturgy affirms this: “Dumating siya – si Jesucristo, na tinatakan ng tubig at ng dugo. Hindi ng tubig lamang, kundi ng dugo rin.” Jesus himself accepts that he has go to through a different baptism, the baptism of blood (Lk. 12:15). The Spirit gave testimony to this: “At nagpapatotoo rin ang Espiritu sapagkat ang Espiritu ay ang katotohanan.” And in the event of Jesus’ baptism, the Father spoke while the Spirit gave testimony to it. “Ikaw ang aking Anak, ang Minamahal, ikaw ang aking Hinirang.” These words from the Father do not only confirm the relationship with the Son. These words are affirmation of what Jesus opted to do.
Today’s liturgy also invites us to reflect on our fundamental options for life. Do your options reflect in some way the choices of Jesus? Can you hear the words of the Father affirming you?
© Copyright Pang Araw-Araw 2021
