The Baptism of the Lord

Today’s Gospel reminds us that God’s presence is often hidden in the ordinary, waiting for us to recognize Him. This truth is beautifully illustrated in a story about a monastery that had fallen on hard times.

Once a vibrant community of prayer and hospitality, it had become small and disheartened. The monks were few, and their relationships had grown cold. Visitors no longer came. 

The abbot, desperate to renew the life of the monastery, went to seek the wisdom of a rabbi who lived in the nearby woods.

The abbot poured out his concerns to the rabbi, who listened quietly. When the abbot had finished, the rabbi said, “I have no advice to give you. But I will tell you this: one of you is the Messiah.”

The abbot was stunned. “The Messiah? Among us?” he asked. The rabbi only nodded. “One of you is the Messiah,” he repeated.

The abbot returned to the monastery and shared the rabbi’s words with his fellow monks. They were shocked, but also intrigued. “Who could it be?” they wondered. 

Could it be Brother Thomas, who is so kind? 

Or Brother Philip, who is so wise? 

Or maybe Brother Matthew, who is so patient? 

Or perhaps, they thought with some hesitation, could it even be me?

From that day forward, the monks began to treat one another differently. They spoke more kindly, showed more patience, and served one another with greater love. 

They lived as though the Messiah was truly among them. Over time, the monastery was transformed. 

Its spirit of love and holiness began to attract visitors once again, and soon it flourished once more.

In the monastery, the monks were challenged to see the divine presence in their midst. 

In the Gospel today, we see a similar scene of hidden divinity. 

Jesus, seemingly disappears into the crowd, baptized by John alongside everyone else. It's almost as if he's lost in the multitude, one among many. 

It's not until the voice thunders from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased," that Jesus is differentiated from the rest.

This scene, much like the rabbi's answer, might strike us as odd. 

We might wonder, "Why didn't Jesus stand out? Shouldn't there have been a spotlight, a fanfare, something to set him apart?" 

But perhaps there's a profound message in this seeming ordinariness, echoing the rabbi's wisdom.

Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, begins his public ministry not with a grand entrance but by blending in with the crowd, by being baptized just like any other person. 

It's a reminder that God often works in the ordinary, in the everyday moments of our lives, just as the Messiah lived amongst the monks, unnoticed and unrecognized.

How often do we miss God's presence because we're looking for something extraordinary? 

We expect miracles, signs, and wonders, and we overlook the quiet ways God speaks to us, the gentle nudges, the subtle graces that fill our days. 

We forget to look for the Messiah in the faces of those we see every day.

Just as Jesus was present in the crowd, unnoticed and unassuming, he is present in our lives, in the faces of those we meet, in the events that unfold, in the joys and sorrows that mark our journey.

The challenge for us is to recognize him, to see beyond the surface and perceive the divine presence that permeates all of creation. 

It's about opening our hearts and minds to the possibility that God is closer than we think, that he's not just in the extraordinary but in the ordinary, in the here and now - just as the Messiah was in the monastery.

The Baptism of the Lord invites us to reflect on our own lives. Where is God present in our everyday experiences? 

How can we be more attentive to his voice, more receptive to his grace?

Perhaps it's in the kindness of a stranger, the forgiveness of a friend, the love of a family member. Or maybe it's in the beauty of nature, the silence of prayer, the simple act of helping someone in need.

As we continue our journey through life, let us be mindful of God's presence in the ordinary, in the everyday moments that often go unnoticed. 

So, where will you look for the Messiah this week? How can you live with the awareness that Christ is in your midst, even in the most ordinary moments?

Let us open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to receive the grace that is always available to us. 

Let us find the Messiah in our midst and respond with faith, hope, and love.