Not long ago a young parishioner told me that she would have her driving test soon. I asked about the date and time of the exam and – having found out those details – I announced I would stay away from any road in the city for the duration of that test. It seemed to be a good joke because she, her father and I laughed at it. But – joking aside – it was obvious that the driving test was an important moment in her life and – quite likely – a significant one for her parents. I don’t want to overegg it, but my educated guess is that passing the test, in its own rights, was a watershed moment. My opinion is based on the definition of the phrase: ‘A watershed moment is a dividing point, from which things will never be the same. It is considered momentous, though a watershed moment is often recognized in hindsight.’
Obviously, in the course of life, we usually have a number of significant events that can be dubbed ‘watershed moments’. Some of them happen to us whether we want them or not; some of them are a combination of the former and our responses to such happenings; most of them tend to be of our own making, the result of our decisions, usually preceded by serious considerations. I’d like to focus on the latter because with those we can take control of our destiny, at least to a great degree. There are three important aspects we have to take into account. Chronologically, we prepare for such momentous decisions by various means so the final decision or action would be well-informed, educated and deliberate. It’s important because usually there are far-reaching or even lifelong consequences. That leads us to the second aspect of planned watershed moments: new grounds. Acquiring a driving licence, getting a placement at a university or a dream job, getting married or any other significant turning point offers new opportunities and chances that we can take advantage of. Such positive prospects are tightly interwoven with the third important aspect: responsibilities. For example, a driving licence allows me to drive on public roads and get to wherever I wish; but it obliges me to follow the highway code to keep everyone else safe: passengers, other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. In marriage, spouses exchange their responsibilities for each other and share responsibility for their offspring. Such responsibility requires serious commitment. And that leads us to today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
To understand the meaning of it, we have to recall Jesus’ declaration as noted by St John’s gospel: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) This is the most condensed description of Jesus’ position, mission and motivation. God’s commitment to the human race was such that Jesus became one of us: ‘when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.’ (Galatians 4:4-5) Although it was a pivotal moment in the history of salvation when God became man, a truly watershed moment at the time, it was known only to a select few, like Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth, the shepherds, the Magi. It was made publicly known about thirty years later, on the banks of the River Jordan where John the Baptist called people to repentance. Many were confessing their sins and were immersed in the river as a sign of repentance. When Jesus approached John the Baptist the latter was rather apprehensive, as testified by St Matthew: ‘I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?’ (Matthew 3:14) In other words, John recognised that Jesus had no sins and thus no need for baptism. Jesus convinced him that it was the right thing to do and was baptised but without confessing any sins. However, in this symbolic way, Jesus immersed himself in human tragedies and suffering: ‘we have [a high priest] who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.’ (Hebrews 4:15). He took our infirmities and bore our diseases. (Matthew 8:17) ‘For our sake [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin.’ (2 Corinthians 5:21) The baptism of Jesus was a watershed moment when He emerged from obscurity to prominence; from being virtually a nobody to being an outstanding public figure. What was notable, Jesus’ high profile didn’t benefit or serve him but those to whom he was committed. His words and deeds were the fulfilment of such commitment, which culminated in His sacrifice on the cross.
Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord could refresh the commitment of our own baptism, but most of us don’t remember that as we were baptised as babies. But Jesus’ baptism is closer to our sacrament of confirmation when, having received the Holy Spirit, we committed to leading a Christian life by living out our faith, its moral code and responsibility for the community of the faithful. It can serve as a call to refresh my commitment as an ordained priest or yours as a wife or husband, as a mother or father. At the dawn of a new year, we tend to make resolutions. Perhaps a renewed commitment to fulfilling your vocation could be one of them. Who knows, it might turn out to be a watershed moment in your life!
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