1 John 5:5-13
Mark 1:6-11
Mark is straight to the point. Already in the chapter, he takes us immediately to the scene of Baptism in River Jordan when John the Baptist who was dressed like the prophetic image of Elijah while baptizing and initiating an entirely new order, the carpenter’s son from Nazareth also steps into the Jordan River to participate.
The subversive faith of Jesus is founded on a powerful connection with God the Father (“You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well-please!”). The heavens are literally ripped open and the Spirit hovers over Jesus as he completes the washing ritual to begin his life’s work.
Through his suffering and death and resurrection, we are initiated into that divine life. We could not reach human destiny but through Christ, we have eternal life. We have been gifted with grace to love and follow this Jesus, this God-man who spoke the truth even when it leads to the cross.
In Baptism, we are called to be prophets as explained in the tradition of John the Baptist; to repent and to follow, but more importantly in the imitation of Christ. Jesus says to us; ‘Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him (John 15,21). May the God of peace and joy see to it that we are rewarded with our most authentic, true selves. Heaven is our destiny.
Fr Joseph Osho
