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Is 42:1-4, 6-7
This is the first of the four servant of the Lord songs in Second Isaiah, introducing him as chosen and empowered by God’s Spirit to uphold justice beyond legal matters, extending God’s moral law to all nations. The servant, calm and gentle, rebuilds rather than destroys. Verses envision Israel as this servant, covenanting with Yahweh to enlighten nations and combat ignorance—symbolized by blindness and imprisonment. While some identify the servant with Israel—calling him ‘Israel’ (49:3)—his individualized traits suggest he represents the faithful remnant. In the New Testament, Jesus fulfills these prophecies.
Acts 10:34-38
As part of Peter’s discourse in Cornelius’ home, this shows his message to the Christian community, emphasizing that all people can access salvation through Christ (“no partiality’). It affirms Gentile Christians’ right to join (v. 35) and summarizes the gospel content. Jesus, who proclaimed peace to Israel, is now Lord of all following his resurrection (2:36). Luke traces Jesus’ ministry from his baptism, not his early years, highlighting that God anointed Jesus through the Spirit, empowering his healing work (v38; Lk 4:18).
Mt 3:13-17
The gospel describes Jesus’ baptism and divine recognition, highlighting the symbolism and theological significance. Jesus comes from Galilee to Judea for baptism, which raises questions about his sinlessness and the baptism’s historicity. The act signifies Jesus sharing humanity and fulfilling God’s will, culminating in the theophany with the Spirit descending as a dove. God affirms Jesus as His Son, fulfilling prophecy and emphasizing his messianic role. The narrative shows Jesus as a kingly servant, emphasizing the Trinitarian nature and linking to Christian baptism.
Ending the Christmas season with Jesus’ baptism highlights our own. Baptism unites God’s promises with Christ’s redemption, making them real in our lives. It is the key sacrament, opening salvation to all and symbolizing the shift from death to life. Just as the Father affirms Jesus as His Son, God names us as His children. May we live out our baptismal promises. Amen.
Spirit
A very common noun found nearly 400 times in the OT, the word “rûach” (ר֥וּחַ), is usually understood as spirit or wind. As spirit it could be in relation both to God and human beings. But the very first mention of the word in Gen 1:2 somehow set the nuance of the word as the Spirit of God when used as the subject of the verb ”merachefet” (מְרַחֶ֖פֶת) translated as ‘swept over’…This verb occurs only once more in Deut. 32:11, expressing the utmost care, love and affection of a mother eagle that flutters or hovers, “yerachef”, over her young and bears them upon her wings. A wind cannot express tender love, care and affection! It blows dispassionately and indifferently – while the Spirit of God caringly and lovingly flutters over His creation. This loving, passionate hovering that we see in Deut. and Gen. can only refer to God’s Spirit!
Over all the word rûach found in OT when attributed to God could mean the following: first, as the agent of creation with that awesome power (Gen 1.2; Ps 33:6; Ez 37:1-10); second, as a source of inspiration and power that moved the leaders of Israel- Moses to Joshua, Judges, Kings, Prophets and the “Servant of The Lord” (Is 42), as vehicles of God’s revelation and activity; and third, as God’s presence in the covenantal community (Ez 11; 36).
Continuing the OT motifs about the �“rûach”, the word “pneuma” (πνευμα) in NT refers explicitly to the Spirit of God and specifically to the Holy Spirit: first, as the agent of conception in the birth of Christ (Mt 1:18ff; Lk 1:35ff) and the new birth or regeneration of Christians (John 3:5ff; 6:63); second, the Spirit is the source of divine revelation (2 Pt 1:21) and one can consider also the revelatory presence of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ baptism: Mk1:9ff, Mt 3:13ff; Lk 4:21ff, noting as well its ‘hovering’ action reminiscent of creation and confirming Jesus as the “Servant of the Lord” (Is 42; Ps 2); third, the Holy Spirit is given to the new covenant people of God (cf Joel 2:28; John 20:23; Acts 1:8) empowers the Church for its mission (Acts 2), dwells in them (Lk 1:15, 67, 1 Cor 6:19ff), illuminating and guiding them, as seal of salvation and sanctification (Rom 15:16, 1 Cor 2:10, Eph 1:13).
The Spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism in Jordan and was revealed as the Father’s beloved Son. May we all His children born of water and the Spirit be faithful to our mission like Jesus and truly become God’s beloved children as well. The Spirit of God, ‘caringly and lovingly flutters over’ us, will surely see this through.
