“AND THE SPIRIT CAME UPON HIM”

Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist at the Jordan. What does it mean? Simple, Jesus, participating in the renewal movement preached by the Precursor, shows that he conceives his way as a way of solidarity towards men. Therefore, Jesus will certainly not be a Messiah next to his community, much less above it, but in the midst of it. The descent of the Spirit, together with the Voice that resounds, also show who Jesus is. Of course, he is similar to his brothers but his identity and mission come from above, from God and not from John’s baptism. The Spirit that rests on (epi) him also indicates a resting by contact. This presence does not transform Jesus (as for the prophets) but reveals publicly who he is; it does not change his identity but makes it transparent. Then there is a Voice from heaven, as we have said. The fact that it comes from heaven does not mean its provenance but rather its authority. It is God who speaks, the Father. It is then an unexpected and unpredictable voice: “You are my Son, the beloved in whom I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22). The expression summarizes two texts of the Old Testament: Is 42:1, which tells of the election of the Servant of YHWH and his mission among the nations, and Psalm 2, a Psalm of enthronement and which makes us understand how Jesus is not only the Servant of YHWH but above all the beloved Son. At this point the figure of Jesus lights up; he was not only foretold by the Old Testament revelation but is the bearer of a great novelty. The Christological reading of the event also highlights the ecclesial reading. The presence of the church appears in the figure of the Servant who is at the same time Messiah and Israel. However, it appears in those that are the basic elements of Christian baptism: divine filiation, the gift of the consecrating and revealing Spirit, and, last but not least, the mission. These are the three elements of the baptism of Christ and of the Christian.

Commentary by b. Sandro Carotta, osb
Abbazia di Praglia (Italy)

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves,
Prinknash Abbey