Florida Catholic | Sunday Word

The Baptism of the Lord

Who will you vote for in the Florida primary Jan. 29?

January 13, 2008 :: Is 42:1-4, 6-7; Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17

FATHER DAVID SCOTCHIE

Among the Republican candidates, Mike Huckabee calls himself a Christian leader and committed conservative. Rudy Giuliani positions himself as strong on terrorism and socially moderate. John McCain, according to the Boston Globe editorial board, transcends partisanship and promotes honest discussion of the country’s problems.

Among the Democrat candidates, Hillary Clinton inspired the confidence of The Des Moines Register editorial board. Barack Obama points to his diverse and international life as strengths to deal with the global issues facing the country.

Voters have to decide how much to trust candidates’ promises. We examine their past actions. Even then, as a mutual fund disclosure states, “Past performance does not guarantee future results.”

The Baptism of the Lord, celebrated on the Sunday after the Epiphany, presents Jesus as the long-awaited savior. Much more than another political leader, he is the beloved Son.

His baptism is the second of three manifestations of who he is and what he will do. In the Liturgy of the Hours (Page 573), we pray, “Three mysteries mark this holy day: Today the star leads the Magi to the infant Christ; today water is changed into wine for the wedding feast; today Christ wills to be baptized by John in the River Jordan to bring us salvation.” The three epiphanies make known who Jesus is and what he will do for his people.

In being baptized, Jesus accepted the commission from the Lord. “I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness” (Is 42:6-7).

What “victory of justice” does Christ bring? John Paul Salay, a Lutheran pastor, wrote that many confuse justice with vengeance. Many cry out for punishment of terrorists and certain nations. “Vengeance is based on hatred and fear. Justice is based on love.” Jesus Christ, in his baptism, is commissioned for the victory of justice based on love.

Isaiah looked for the day when nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4) and when the Lord will “judge the poor with justice and decide aright for the land’s afflicted” (Is 11:4). On the day of the Lord, “The wolf shall be a guest of the lamb” (Is 11:6).

When we were baptized, we were made disciples of the Lord (Mt 28:19). Before we are Republicans or Democrats, we are disciples of the Lord, living out our discipleship in the Catholic Church. Our bishops recently encouraged Catholics to be active in the political process and “form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth.”

The issues of abortion, violence, marriage, comprehensive immigration reform, poverty, health care reform, prejudice and appropriate military force are all issues of justice. Weighing our future leaders, let us form our consciences in accordance with God’s truth and look to Jesus Christ for the “victory of justice.”

To take to prayer: Read Isaiah 42:1-9 and spend some time with the Lord.

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