Daily Catholic Lectio
Sat, 6 January 2024
1 John 5:5-6, 8-13. Mark 1:7-11
You are the beloved!
The Vikram Lander that was sent by ISRO as part of the mission Chandrayan-3, after 40 days of journey, landed on the Moon on 23 August 2023. The first message that the Lander sent to the Land was: ‘India, I have reached my destination, so you have!’
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God, who is beyond time and who sent his only Son to be part of time, sends him the message: ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’
The gospel reading brings before us the event of the baptism of Jesus. For Jesus, baptism meant: (a) the inauguration of his public ministry; (b) foundational experience; and (c) the definition and affirmation of his identity.
(a) Mark writes, “Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.” The names of the places ‘Nazareth’ and ‘Jordan’ could metaphorically be understood as ‘Jesus’ hidden life,’ and ‘Jesus’ public life’ respectively. There is not only a movement in space, i.e., from Nazareth to Jordan, but also a movement in time, i.e., from 0 to 30 years. Jesus inaugurates his public ministry at the Jordan.
(b) The listening to the voice from heaven – ‘you are my beloved son’ – forms the foundational experience for Jesus. A foundational experience is an experience that transforms our existence and movement. The experience of Moses on the Horeb, the experience of Isaiah in the Temple of Jerusalem, and the experience of Saul (Paul) on the way to Damascus are foundational experiences. For, they changed the course of these individuals. Jesus begins his ministry as the Son of God. From now on, he will proclaim the Kingdom of God, which entails freedom, fraternity, equality, and inclusion. Whenever he faces difficulties in his ministry, whenever he is misunderstood or not understood, he will return to this foundational experience.
(c) Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father, and the Father is pleased with him. Jesus’ mission is to not please himself or others but to please his Father alone. This mission emerges from his identity.
Jesus listens to the voice of the Father as he comes up out of the water. He will begin now to make true the voice of John the Baptist: ‘he will baptise with the Holy Spirit.’
‘You are the beloved’ – these words of God from heaven echoed in our ears when we were baptized. We are known by God, and we are loved by God. This voice of God continues to ring in our ears today, especially when we are depressed, frustrated, confused, afraid, anxious, or when our identity is marred. This voice invites us to treat everyone as ‘beloved of God.’
God, who instilled his breath in us when we were conceived, continues to offer us this affirmation: ‘You are the beloved.’
What must we do to live like this?
(a) We must get out of our Nazareth (comfort zone) and come to the Jordan (mission).
(b) We must make our feet wet in the Jordan of humanity, sharing with each other our tears.
(c) We must continue to come up out of water.
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The Synod on Synodality invites us to celebrate not our hierarchical or charismatic identity but our baptismal identity. It is the baptismal identity that makes communion, inclusion, and mission possible. (Jubilee 2025, bite 2).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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