ANOINTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

20170109 ANOINTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: White.

First reading

Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7 ©

Thus says the Lord:

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom my soul delights.

I have endowed him with my spirit

that he may bring true justice to the nations.

He does not cry out or shout aloud,

or make his voice heard in the streets.

He does not break the crushed reed,

nor quench the wavering flame.

Faithfully he brings true justice;

he will neither waver, nor be crushed

until true justice is established on earth,

for the islands are awaiting his law.

I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;

I have taken you by the hand and formed you;

I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,

to open the eyes of the blind,

to free captives from prison,

and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 28(29):1-4,9-10 ©

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

O give the Lord, you sons of God,

  give the Lord glory and power;

give the Lord the glory of his name.

  Adore the Lord in his holy court.

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters,

  the Lord on the immensity of waters;

the voice of the Lord, full of power,

  the voice of the Lord, full of splendour.

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The God of glory thunders.

  In his temple they all cry: ‘Glory!’

The Lord sat enthroned over the flood;

  the Lord sits as king for ever.

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Second reading

Acts 10:34-38 ©

Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.

  ‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’

Gospel Acclamation

cf.Mk9:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

The heavens opened and the Father’s voice resounded:

‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’

Alleluia!

Gospel

Matthew 3:13-17 ©

Jesus appeared: he came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.’ At this, John gave in to him.

  As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’

SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ ISA 42:1-4.6-7; ACTS 10:34-38; MT 3:13-17]

Today, we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord.  With this feast, the Ordinary Sundays of the liturgical year commences.  From the celebration of Christmas and Ephiphany, the Church fast forwards to the time of His calling when He was anointed to announce the Good News to all.  It is also an opportune time for us to reflect on our own baptism.  What does it mean to be baptized?  The fact that many of us are not living up to our baptismal obligations means that we are not conscious of the meaning and implications of our baptism.

Firstly, baptism brings about the forgiveness of sins.  That is what the baptism of John the Baptist did.  This is true also of our baptism. When we are baptized our sins are forgiven.   We are washed clean of our guilt and our past.  We are now reconciled with God.  Putting on the new garment, that is, putting on Christ is the new way we live out our faith.  We have become a new creation.

Secondly, baptism speaks of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  It is not sufficient to say that our sins are forgiven.  What is equally important is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  That is why John the Baptist made it clear when he said, “I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”  (Jn 1:33)  Christian baptism is more than just the forgiveness of sins; it is also the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

So what does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? Firstly, it means that we share in the Spirit of the Father and the Son.  For this reason, we are called sons and daughters of God.  We are adopted sons and daughters of God.  The same Spirit given to Jesus is now given to us as well.  So even though we are not divine like Jesus, we share the same Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of love.  What was said and reaffirmed of Jesus applies to us as well, when the Father from the clouds spoke at His Son’s baptism, “This is my Son, the beloved; my favour rests on him.”

Secondly, to be anointed means that we are chosen for service.  The king and the prophets in the Old Testament were considered the anointed ones of God.  Even today, the Pope and the bishops wear a zuchetto (skullcap) as a sign that they have been chosen by God for a special office.  Baptism therefore is a gift.  God has chosen us out of mercy and compassion.  But we are never chosen for ourselves.  We are chosen for a service.  This is what many Catholics fail to realize.  They think baptism is an individual and personal matter.  So too the sacrament of confirmation is not just for oneself but a call to ecclesial service.  They forget that to be baptized and confirmed is always for service and for mission.

What is this mission and service that we are anointed for?  It is to share in His messianic office.  Like Jesus, we are chosen to be the Suffering Servant of Isaiah to bring the Good News to the world.  “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights.  I have endowed him with my spirit.”  That is why baptism is also called Christening.  We often choose a new name, especially that of a saint to express our desire to be a living saint by living the life of Christ.  With a new name, we are also given a new function and a new office.  The choice of a new name always symbolizes a change in office. As baptized Christians, we share in the kingly, prophetic and priestly service of Christ.  We are called to be good stewards and leaders; witnesses in words and deeds, and to offer ourselves in sacrifice to God and humanity through worship, prayer and humble service.

Specifically, this service entails firstly, the work of justice.  The Suffering Servant, we read, will “bring true justice to the nations.  Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth, for the islands are awaiting his law.”  To do the work of justice is to restore the relationship of humanity with God and with each other.  Justice is to make things right.  We are called to help humanity to be reconciled with God.  This is what the Lord said to the prophet, “I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right.”  It calls for respect of life and the dignity of all human beings regardless of race, language or religion.  It also means a sharing of resources and goods with all and that no one has a monopoly of this world’s wealth and resources. It means speaking up for all those who are oppressed and discriminated or unjustly treated.

But this work of justice is to be carried out not through violence but through dialogue. “He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame.”  Pressuring authorities, taking up arms and instigating revolutionary activities; slandering and using social media to attack others is not the way to be bring about justice. Rather, only through respectful, sincere and genuine dialogue, can changes be effected.  Violence will only cause more violence.

Secondly, the messianic office requires us to set others free.  The Lord says, “I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from dungeon.”  This is the role of the prophetic office of enlightening all peoples in the truth.  Whether we are teachers, parents, priests or leaders, our task is to help those under our charge to live righteous and holy lives.  We are to instruct them in the knowledge of the Scriptures and their faith.  For those who are lost and living in sin, we must help them to free themselves from addictions, anger, guilt, fear, selfishness and pride.  There are many in captivity because of the lack of forgiveness towards their enemies and towards themselves.

Thirdly, we are called, like Christ, to do good, perform works of mercy and charity.  This by far is the most powerful form of action. “Because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.”  Through our good works, especially works of mercy to the poor and also to those spiritually poor, we help them to encounter the Good News concretely in their lives.  No one will believe in God or in Christ unless they encounter His personal love and mercy. Just by doing good, helping our brothers and sisters, showing compassion for the sick and the needy, we would have extended the gospel them.   We can do good, beginning in our own homes, our office or in the Church.  We need to reach out and make time for the elderly, for our parents and for others.  By being with them, we give them hope and courage.

We can do what Jesus did only if we are renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is given to us not just to act in the same Spirit of the Father but to act with power.  “God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power.”  Jesus could handle the temptations of the Evil One only because He was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.  It was in and through the Holy Spirit that He could perform miracles and exorcism.  We pray for the same gift of the Holy Spirit to enable us to do what the Lord had done.  To be anointed in the Holy Spirit is to be given the gifts of the Holy Spirit for us to act effectively.

Above all, the Holy Spirit is given so that we can come to know the personal love of the Father through the Son.  The baptism of Jesus was His depth experience of His Father’s love.  That radical experience of His Father’s love and election of Him gave Him the impetus and the courage to respond decisively to the mission entrusted to Him.  It was thus after His baptism that He decided that it was the right time for Him to leave the secure home of Nazareth and go all over Palestine to proclaim God’s mercy and love through His liberating words and works.  We too must ask whether we are ready.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved