Matthew's third Great Appearance--the sanctified sanctifying at the Jordan

The rich feast of Epiphany was of old the Great Feast of the Christmastide cycle. Only after centuries did the day chosen in the West as the actual “feast of the Nativity”, “Christ’s Mass” (“Christmas”) overtake Epiphany in importance. In the Eastern Orthodox churches and in many Latin-influenced cultures, Epiphany is still the Great Feast, the feast for rich liturgies and for feasts and for gift-giving to the children.

On this feast, not only the familiar story of the “Magi”, the mystic pilgrims and wizards from the East following their star was re-told, but also the other great Biblical stories of the manifestation of Christ’s glory. The birth of the Lord at Bethlehem, the visit of the Magi from Matthew, the accounts of the Baptism of Jesus as an adult at the Jordan River, and even the tale from John of changing water into wine at a wedding feast were all read and preached. This was a Baptismal time, when adult candidates for Baptism linked their own Baptism with that of their Lord’s.

We remember this ancient and powerful time of the “Great Appearing”, the Epiphany, by observing the Baptism of the Lord today, part of this ancient and mighty cycle. Matthew tells this story as a surprise ending to his description of the powerful ministry of John the Baptizer, the “last Old Testament prophet” who proclaims the coming of one who “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Mt 3: 11) John himself seems shocked that Jesus, whom he seems to recognize even before the actual baptism, is submitting to John’s ministry. Jesus insists “to fulfill all righteousness.” Then, the wonder of the vision which it suggests only Jesus sees—heavens open, Spirit as a dove, the Voice which says “this is my son, the Beloved, listen to him.”

The Promise and the Promised One comes as a surprise even for the devout. Expectations are overturned: it is the baptized who sanctifies the hand which baptizes and the water as well, it is the recipient who is to be listened to, it is the humble one who is proclaimed “beloved.”

In this season, how ready are we to have our expectations overturned? How can we be John, who is willing to change and to be changed when faced with the New? And do we too hear the Voice echoing our own Baptism—“This is my Beloved.” How does that change everything?