“Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John.”
 
Jesus, the Sinless One, comes to be baptised. Solidarity of our God with us!
The Divine Word, having become flesh and living among us, takes upon himself the sinfulness of all humanity and approaches John for baptism. John tries to dissuade him.

“It is I who need baptism from you”, says John, “and yet you come to me.”
Jesus replies: “Leave it like this for the time being, it is fitting that we should in this way do all that righteousness demands.”

Symbolically, we see manifested what Jesus’ life is all about. Down into the water and up again, the dying and rising, and suddenly the heavens open and he sees the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. A voice speaks from heaven: “This is My Son, the Beloved, my favour rests on him.”

In himself Jesus carries all of sinful humanity for whom – through his dying and rising – the heavens open, the Spirit descends and the Voice says: “This is My Son, the Beloved.” Through his solidarity with us we are invited into communion with God and with each other.

Where do we see this taking place today? Where are people willing to take on themselves the sinfulness, the weaknesses, the misfortunes of others, accepting the dying and rising involved? How do they experience the heavens being opened, the Spirit of God descending and the Voice proclaiming: “This is My Son, the Beloved”?

A group of people decide to open a home for battered women. They accept the dying and rising involved in the project so that these women also may have the opportunity to know themselves as beloved daughters, empowered with the Spirit of God, able to begin a new life.

When the St. Vincent de Paul Society began the Cyril Ross Home for children with HIV/AIDS, the members committed themselves to the dying and rising that would be involved.

They entered into solidarity with these children. Perhaps there were those who tried to dissuade them but like Jesus they stood firm. They were committed to do all that righteousness demands.

The Dominican sisters came from Etrepagny in France many years ago because there were people here stricken with Leprosy, in need of care. The sisters agreed to go to Chacachacare, accepting to be isolated from society like the lepers were themselves.

Fr. Damien had done something similar far away on the island of Molokai, going alone and making his home among the lepers there, living and dying in solidarity with them.
There are examples all around us.

Only a few months ago a young woman left Trinidad to join the Little Sisters of Jesus, a religious community living and working in several countries among people who are very, very poor.

Fr. Gerry Pantin as he walked in Laventille in 1970 was in many ways like Jesus going to be baptised. He was making a statement of solidarity that would commit him to the dying and rising involved in what came to be known as SERVOL and through which many would experience the heavens opening for them and their own specialness as beloved sons or daughters of God. His successors continue what he began.

Drug Rehabilitation centres, work in rehabilitating homeless children and adults, ministry with ex-convicts… all of these are expressions of solidarity, reaching out to support others so they may know themselves as beloved sons of God.

Who are the people who have stood by us when we were down and lifted us up by their solidarity with us? How have we experienced through them the heavens opening for us and the awareness that we are God’s Beloved? How has this drawn us to live out our communion in solidarity with others?

Let us pray
Beloved Abba! Thank you for Jesus. Through immersing himself in all of our life he has allowed us to be immersed in your divine life. Thank you for all who dare to live this out.

Forgive us the times we want to accept the life you offer but we shield ourselves from others. In our pride we think of ourselves as better than others, more deserving of being Your beloved. We judge those around us. Forgive us Lord.

We forget the communion into which You have drawn us in our own baptism. We do not live it. We are so afraid of the dying and rising.
Help us to experience anew the heavens being opened, the Spirit descending and the

Voice saying: “This is My Son, the Beloved”. Empower us to go forward to overcome temptations and fears and to dare to live out our communion with You and with all Your people. Amen

Gospel Meditations for January are by Christina Araujo OP, a Sinsinawan Dominican who presently coordinates the Total Parish Catechesis programme in the Holy Rosary/St Martin de Porres parish.