Baptism of the Lord

January 11, 2026

The Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 | Psalm 29 | Acts 10:34-38 | Matthew 3:13-17

One of my favorite TV characters is Michael Scott from "The Office," probably (ok definitely) because I relate to him on some level. One of his great quotes is, "I love inside jokes. I hope to be a part of one someday." When I look back at my high school days, one of the things I hated the most — besides my haircut at the time — was the power and exclusivity of the cliques. I was not "a cool kid" by any stretch of the imagination. Like most kids, I just wanted to belong, to be a part of that inside joke.

In our readings today, we get to see the love and inclusivity of God and how this was His plan through Jesus all along. Picture the scene at the Jordan River. John the Baptist has been out there for months, calling people to repent and be baptized. He's preparing the way, and then Jesus shows up.

Think about this: Jesus didn't need to be baptized. He had no sin to wash away. John knew it too. He tried to stop Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" But Jesus insisted. He stepped into those muddy waters right alongside sinners, tax collectors, and ordinary people. The King of the Universe got in line with everyone else. Why? Because from the very beginning, God's plan was to be with us —not above us, not separate from us, but right here in the mess with us.

Then, something amazing happens. As Jesus comes up from the water, the heavens open. The Spirit descends like a dove. And the Father's voice literally thunders from above: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Here's something else to appreciate — these words echo what God said through Isaiah hundreds of years earlier: "Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased." Isaiah goes on to describe this servant as "a covenant of the people, a light for the nations," someone who would "open the eyes of the blind" and "bring out prisoners from confinement." Did you pick up on that? God's plan was always bigger than one group of people. The Messiah wasn't coming just for Israel. He was coming for everyone.

Fast forward to our reading from Acts, and we find Peter standing in the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion and Gentile. Peter has just had his mind blown. He says, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him."

I have to laugh at Peter's language here. He tells these Gentiles that God finds them "acceptable." It's such classic, understated human perspective! It's like telling someone, "Yeah, God thinks you're...okay." Don't let Peter make you miss what's actually happening: This is a revolution! The door is being thrown open! God’s invitation is going out to the whole world.

Psalm 29 adds another layer for us. It declares that "the voice of the Lord is over the waters" and that "the God of glory thunders." At Jesus's baptism, we see this literally fulfilled. The Father's voice breaks through over the Jordan, announcing His Son to the world.

This week the Church celebrated two saints who understood this inclusive, humble love of God. Saint John Neumann, who became a bishop in Philadelphia, PA (shoutout to Philly!) once wrote after performing a baptism, "If the child I baptized today dies in the grace of this sacrament, then my journey to America has been repaid a million times." He understood what baptism really means: entry into God's family, no exceptions.

Saint André Bessette, a humble doorkeeper in Montreal, spent his life welcoming everyone, Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He said, "It is with the smallest brushes that the Artist paints the best paintings." God uses humble instruments (you and me) to accomplish great things.

So, what does this mean for us? It means we're not part of some exclusive club. Our baptism doesn't make us better than anyone else. It does though make us responsible for our “brothers and sisters.” This means the person sitting next to you, the neighbor you've been avoiding, the coworker who drives you crazy —they're all invited to the same table.

Jesus got in line with sinners at the Jordan. He humbled himself to be one of us. God looked down at him and said, "This is my beloved Son." The best news is that through our baptism, God looks at us the same way. We are His beloved children. All of us. Together.

No cliques. No exclusion. Just the wide-open arms of a Father who wants everyone to be part of his family.