Jesus is the Suffering Servant of the Lord God. He comes not to be served, but to serve and to give his life for all. 

John baptizes Jesus. As Jesus prays, heaven opens, and the Holy Spirit comes down upon him as a dove. And a voice from heaven says, “You are my dear Son; with you I am well pleased.” So, it lets us know that he is the Lord God’s Suffering Servant, because the phrase “with you I am well pleased” sends us back to the first reading. It is the first of the four poems of the Servant who will suffer much to live up to his calling.

As for Jesus’ prayer, it may be the Shemoneh Esrei that asks, in part, for the Messiah to come. But be this the prayer or not, the account suggests that the Messiah is here now. He is Jesus. For heaven rends, and the Holy Spirit comes down. The Spirit that moved over the waters at the start of creation. And there was also the dove that announced the end of the great flood. So, the new creation, the new covenant, starts. Here now also is the End of Days. These are the last days.

Yes, Jesus is the Messiah. He is stronger than John. For John baptizes with water. And he is also not worthy to loosen the thongs of the sandals of the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.

But the fire with which Jesus baptizes is not at all the fire that burns trees that bear no fruit. After all, he uses his strength to bring forth justice to the earth, not to yell and threaten. Strong, he does not turn back in the face of conflicts that come with doing good (SV.EN I:75). Not in the face of death. For salvation means self-emptying love (see Pope Francis’ homily). He is the Suffering Servant.

Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to live like you, the Lord God’s Suffering Servant. To the point of giving up our bodies and shedding our blood. We will thus help to bring about and spread God’s kingdom.

12 January 2025
Baptism of the Lord (C)
Is 42, 1-4. 6-7; Acts 10, 34-38; Lk 3, 15-16. 21-22