The Baptism of the Lord is another opportunity for humans to learn more about how God reaches out to us.  It is not just what God says, but how God does it that I reflect on today.  When Jesus was baptized, we see the Spirit of God descending like a dove and the heavens opening for him.  Then we hear the voice of God revealing not only that Jesus is God’s beloved son, but that God is well pleased with him.  God speaks to affirm Jesus as his son here in a very gentle way.  Next, God speaks to direct us in what we must do, again, in a very gentle, but compelling way.  God says, “listen to him.”

God takes the opportunity to get our attention in the baptism of Jesus. What he says to us is exceedingly powerful when we reflect on what the Lord says to Isaiah long before the birth of Jesus.  The Lord tells the prophet Isaiah that Jesus already exists in spirit, as a servant of God, and that we will soon know what this Jesus does.  This servant chosen by God will bring forth justice, not forcefully, but in a calm and gentle way.  This Jesus will not shout or cry out, but rather, he will teach us. And that is what he did. Jesus taught us to proclaim peace, to do good, and to heal the oppressed. Today, we are reminded to “listen to him!”  Yes, God reaches out to us to tell us that Jesus is truly his beloved son.  But God also reaches out to us to tell us to “listen to him!”