Please read the passage before the homily.
We celebrated the feast of the Epiphany last Sunday. The word Epiphany means revelation. While we usually think of the Magi on Epiphany, the feast celebrates three manifestations or revelations of the Lord Jesus. The coming of the Magi, together with the baptism Lord Jesus and the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana, makes up the three aspects of the Epiphany. We celebrated the Magi last Sunday; we celebrate the baptism today; and we will celebrate the wedding feast at Cana next Sunday.
All four gospels tell of the baptism of Jesus by John. They say that John baptized Jesus in the river, but not one account describes the baptism.
We are told that Jesus was baptized and was praying. This happened on earth in the river. What happened in heaven? Luke tells us that heaven was opened and a voice from heaven declared Jesus to be the beloved Son in whom God was well pleased. In other words, what happened on earth in a river was ratified in heaven. Earth and heaven are not separate entities, but they form a continuum of cooperation and interrelatedness. Heaven and earth have a share in the baptism of Jesus.
Guess what? Heaven and earth are not only intimately connected in the baptism of Jesus; they are also intimately connected with our baptisms and our time in the Church. This is why we can celebrate the mysteries of the Lord at Mass and receive the body and blood the lord Jesus. This is why the priest can absolve us of our sins. This is why God can bless marriages on earth with the blessings of heaven. This is why all the activities and actions of the Church can produce results in heaven.
We do not know how John baptized Jesus, but we understand that he did. We do not know how Christ works with the Church in the world to produce results in heaven, but we believe he does.
What is the mystery? It is that Christ and heaven are intimately involved with our lives on earth. Even on us has the Holy Spirit descended and even on us has the voice of God declared that we are God’s beloved children in whom God is well pleased.