Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BIBLICAL IMAGERY

(Fr Michael Boakye Yeboah: Vice Rector of St Gregory Seminary, Kumasi-Ghana)

STEPPING-IN

            Baptism is the first step of the rite of Christian initiation. The word comes from the Hebrew word baptismos which means immersion in water. The equivalent Hebrew word to Greek is baptisma which refers to full immersion in water. Some scholars have linked baptism to the Hebrew verb rakhats which carries the nuance of ritual bathing (Lev. 14:8). Ritual bathing normally has to do with sin cleansing. If that is the case, then what was Jesus doing in the Jordan waters when John the Baptist was baptizing?

            The Baptist himself was surprised to see Jesus in the baptismal waters. What sin has Jesus come to be cleansed of may have been a puzzle for John the Baptist. Jesus stepped into the baptismal waters to identify himself with sinners. The inspired writer tells us that there was an emphatic statement from the heavens that caught people’s attention. We are told that there was a declaration: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” This statement and the act of Jesus did not add up. If he is the beloved Son of God, then he is without sin; if he is without sin, then what was he doing in the baptismal waters? There are a lot of questions begging for answers. The only answer available that day and today is: Jesus stepped into the waters to identify himself with sinners and through his association he brought salvation to humanity.

            I would like to discuss the stepping-in within the context of Jesus’ baptism from two perspectives. Some Christians understand the stepping-in as passivity; that is Christ taking over without the cooperation of the individual. In this regard, we have heard some pastors teach that Christ by stepping-in has paid the debt of sin of the individual – the sin of his/her past, present, and what (s)he will commit in future. Their teachings are more in line with Martin Luther’s interpretations of Romans 1:17 that once a believer declares faith in Christ Jesus, Jesus takes over and (s)he need not do anything again. This cosmetic teaching has become attractive to many Christians that they do not want to give hearing to the authentic teaching of the Baptism of the Lord. This teaching is promoting a lot of vices within some Christian circles. Baptism should not be likened to immunization; whereby once immunized one is free from contracting that said disease. After baptism, concupiscence (one’s inclination to commit sin) still remains. Christians should be mindful of misleading pastors and their teachings.

            The stepping-in in the second perspective carries the nuance of one’s active participation. Christ by stepping-in identified himself with the sinner and decided that through his public ministry, he will accompany the sinner from a life of darkness to a life of grace. In fact, most dictionaries define stepping-in as: “…to become involved in a difficult situation or argument in order to help find a solution.” The stress should be with the word “involved”. When someone gets involved, (s)he does not take over the whole situation. And so, Jesus decided to answer his Father’s call by getting involved in our mess. If one has a problem and another decides to get involve to help, there is the need for active cooperation. Once there is active cooperation, the sinner gets to know the path/solution so that when the helper is no longer around (s)he can always find his/her way out of the problem if it re-occurs.

            What should the person preparing for baptism do or what should those who have already received baptism do? The first step is that one has to open his/her heart to receive Jesus who is at his/her door knocking. Remember, Jesus does not force himself on any person. Once the person freely opens the door of his or her heart to Jesus, then (s)he needs to be baptized in order for him/her to take on the person of Christ; so that (s)he becomes what is referred to in Latin as in persona Christi or alter Christus.

            Once baptized, the Christian should allow Jesus to step-into all his/her life’s situations. A person may ask: ‘how can I see Jesus stepping-into my situation every day?’ The answer is simple: let his word be a light for your path and a dictate for your life. If Jesus’ Word and Sacrament is with a Christian, then (s)he can be sure that Jesus will accompany him/her all the days of his/her life. As the Christian lives by the Word and Sacrament, (s)he ought to saturate that life every day with prayer. That Christian can therefore say with a devout Jew: “The Lord my God is the Lord indeed, and it is the Lord my God I will serve with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my being” (Deut. 6:4). May we be actively involved as Jesus guides us through life. Amen.