The reading from Isaiah today is
full of good news. It comes from the "Book of Consolation" (Isaiah 40–55),
written during a time when Assyria had fallen, Babylon was weakening, and God
was preparing to rescue the enslaved Israelites. They were a broken people, and
God, like a tender shepherd, forgave their sins, offered comfort, and promised
to gently lead them to freedom.The passage begins, “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” The verb is plural and suggests that God is calling a group to speak words of consolation to those in need. The phrase “my people” reflects God’s covenantal relationship with Israel, even in their suffering. Despite their sins, God remains faithful, and their time of hardship is declared over.
Though the promised relief is not yet visible, the people are urged to act in hope, removing obstacles to God’s arrival: “In the desert prepare the way of the Lord.” This is a call to trust in God’s promise and start preparing for deliverance, even before it is evident.
The scene then shifts to Jerusalem, a city in ruins. The people are called to proclaim that their victorious God is coming to free them, to voice hope in what is not yet visible. This mission of proclaiming good news and hope was central to Jesus’ ministry, guided by the Spirit given to him at his baptism—a Spirit we also receive in our baptism. We, too, are called to be heralds of good news.
At his baptism, Jesus prayed, expressing his dependence on God and identifying fully with humanity. Like those at John’s baptism seeking renewal, we also look for a fresh start as we begin the new year. We hope for a stirring of the Spirit within us to live out our baptismal identity as disciples of Jesus, bringing good news to those in need.
The Spirit comes upon Jesus while he is praying. Prayer is a key theme throughout Luke’s gospel. Nothing important happens for Jesus in this gospel apart from prayer. Prayer must accompany the disciple’s ministry as well. Prayer opens the disciple’s eyes and ears so we can recognize Jesus when he appears disguised in the clothes of the ordinary people and events of our day.
Luke emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ baptism. While the actual baptism is briefly mentioned, Luke focuses on the Spirit’s descent and the divine voice proclaiming Jesus as the “beloved Son” in whom God is well pleased. This marks Jesus’ anointing for mission, a mission shared with us through the Spirit. As Paul reminds us, the Spirit prays within us, even when we cannot find the words ourselves. Through the Spirit, we encounter God’s presence within and around us.
The Spirit not only empowers us for prayer, but also sends us on mission. Like Jesus, we are called to heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned—all in his name. These acts may not make headlines, but they reflect the Gospel lived out in daily life.
For Luke, prayer is central to Jesus’ life. Before every major event—choosing disciples, announcing his passion, the transfiguration—Jesus prays. In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke shows how prayer empowers the disciples with the Spirit to serve God amid challenges. Prayer integrates faith into daily life, sustaining us in hope and mission as we await Jesus’ return. Is prayer at the center of our lives as disciples?
Through Baptism, we are not only united with Jesus but also joined to a community of faith and mission. Following Jesus is not an individual endeavor but a shared journey of proclaiming the Gospel together.
Someone recently asked if I knew the date of my Baptism. I didn’t. I know my birthdate, but Baptism wasn’t celebrated with the same enthusiasm. Growing up, it seemed like a rite of initiation—a way to “join the club” and begin the journey to heaven. But Baptism is far more than a formality.
At our Baptism, the same Spirit that descended upon Jesus comes upon us. As one prayer for blessing baptismal waters says:
"Praise to you, God, the Holy Spirit. For you anointed Christ at his baptism in the waters of the Jordan, so that we might all be baptized in you."
This prayer reminds us that baptism commissions us to announce the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. The voice from heaven identified Jesus as “Son” and “Beloved,” sending him to proclaim and embody God’s reign. Through baptism, we share in this call to reconciliation and mission, empowered by the same Spirit.