THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD: CAN GOD’S VOICE STILL BE HEARD?

The world is facing several crises in our time. Families seem confused. Parents seem worried. Children seem to be questioning. The youth seem to be floating. The voices of culture, politics, and individualism create more confusion. There’s an overarching demand for peace. Many people wonder whether the new year will indeed be happy and whether conflicts will cease. The crises vary for individuals _faith, mission and identity. Where can we truly hear God’s voice anymore?

Christ’s public mission begins not with a miracle or a sermon, but with an anointing—an anointing by the Holy Spirit. In the Jordan, Jesus submits himself to baptism, not because he needs cleansing, but because he chooses obedience. As God, he has no sin to wash away; as man, he enters fully into our human condition. In doing so, he opens the pathway of grace for us and sanctifies the waters of baptism. Christ’s baptism does something remarkable for us as it reassures us of God’s presence in our lives. God sets us aside amid chaos.

Baptism, at its heart, is about dying and rising. The old self—marked by the legacy of Adam and Eve—dies, and a new life begins. Sanctifying grace, the very life of God, enters the soul and leaves an indelible mark. From that moment, we belong to God in a new way.

At Jesus’ baptism, something extraordinary happens. Heaven opens. The Holy Spirit descends like a dove. And the Father’s voice is heard: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” This is not a private moment; it is a revelation. Jesus is revealed as both Son and Servant—true God and true man. As Saint Paul would later describe it, Christ “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:6–8). He enters the waters to take upon himself our brokenness, so that through his blood and water, we might be healed. Peter demonstrates this as he addresses the house of Cornelius, at His baptism, God “proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”

The prophet Isaiah had already prepared us for this moment: “Here is my servant, my chosen one, with whom I am well pleased; upon him I have put my spirit.” The Father’s voice in the Gospel confirms this prophecy and invites us to recognize something profound: what is spoken over Jesus is also echoed over us in baptism.

The catechism tells us simply that baptism cleanses us of original sin, makes us Christians, and adopts us as sons and daughters of God within the community of believers. Through baptism, we become members of Christ’s mystical body, the Church. Darkness gives way to light. Alienation gives way to belonging. Fear gives way to identity. And this identity matters—especially in times of struggle. We are God’s children now (1 Jn. 3:2).

God’s voice still speaks. And when God speaks, he does not speak fear or despair. God speaks peace, hope, mercy, compassion, and truth. Saint Paul reminds us: “You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Rom. 8:15).

It is not accidental that many people today cling to words like “Do not fear, for I am with you” (Is. 41:10) or “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4). These two verses, which show up in Google search as the most used Bible verses in 2025, reveal a deep human longing—to hear God’s voice in the tough times of life - illness, broken relationships, job loss, grief, political and religious turmoil, and uncertainty. Baptism does not spare us from these trials, but it assures us of God’s abiding presence in them.

We learn to hear that voice, especially through prayer. However, prayer is not always dramatic. Sometimes it is dry, slow, and quiet. Yet it is in that quiet fidelity that clarity and wisdom grow. God’s voice does not rush us. It does not come in chaos. It comes in peace.

As the psalmist says: “I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people… but let them not return to folly” (Ps. 85:8).

Today, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord invites us to return to our own baptism—not merely as a past event, but as a living identity. We are beloved. We are chosen. And God’s voice can still be heard—if we are willing to listen.

Readings: Is. 42:1–4, 6–7; Acts 10:34–38; Mt. 3:13-17

Reflection questions

1. When I reflect on my baptism, do I truly see myself as a beloved son or daughter of God, and how does that identity shape the way I live each day?

2. In the midst of my current struggles or uncertainties, where am I being invited to listen more attentively to God’s voice rather than the voices of fear, anxiety, or discouragement?

3. What concrete step can I take this week to renew my baptismal commitment—through prayer, forgiveness, service, or trust in God’s presence in my life?