Jesus’ Baptism Is His ‘Coming Out’ Moment. It Can Be Ours, Too.

Today’s post is from guest contributor Sr. Donna McGartland, one of the authors in Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious published by New Ways Ministry.

Today’s liturgical readings for the Baptism of Jesus can be found here.

Over the past few weeks, we have been celebrating Jesus coming into this world as one of us.  Today, we celebrate his Baptism, his “coming out” to the world as an adult. 

Jesus is 30 years old when he goes to see John who is baptizing in the wilderness.  John is warning everyone who would listen that the Kingdom of God is at hand.  He is calling people to repent of their sinfulness and to turn to God.  When asked how to do that, John tells them to give to the poor and share their food with the hungry. 

Note that John is not in the temple as he preaches.  The Good News is proclaimed to everyone so that “All people will see the salvation sent from God,” as today’s first liturgical reading reminds us. In John’s  preaching, no one is considered privileged nor exempt from making a personal decision to turn to God.  

Jesus embraces John’s message and chooses to be baptized.  When he does, his true identity is revealed as the Holy Spirit descends upon him and a voice is heard, “You are my Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

Jesus’ life changes dramatically after that.  His true identity is now known.  He can no longer go back!  

I can only imagine what Jesus was feeling at this moment.  Did he embrace the words of Isaiah?  “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit.”  Did he feel loved?  Or was he confused by the Spirit’s message?  Was he afraid?  Jesus was fully human.  My guess is that he was feeling many emotions after this experience and thus he went into the wilderness for 40 days.   

I think back to my own coming out process.  I definitely did not feel chosen nor beloved.  More than anything, I felt betrayed.  I had internalized so much of the homophobia that was all around me:  in my family and friends, in the Catholic school I went to, and in the church.  I wanted no part of an LGBTQ+ identity for myself.  I struggled to understand my sexual orientation and gender identity.     

As I grew into my identity, however, I discovered the John the Baptists in my life who invited me to wholeness and to recognize that it is in the wilderness within me that I will hear and know God.  They call me again and again to be baptized, to reject the negativity within, and to embrace the Gospel.  I opened my heart to the Gospel and heard that God is pleased with me as I am and God’s Spirit dwells within me.  My real coming out came when I could finally hear God’s voice within: “You are my Beloved, my chosen one!  You are made in my image and likeness.”  My life has never been the same! 

Who are the John the Baptists in your life?  Can you hear their challenge and  affirmations to recognize that God came to bring you freedom and love?  What do you need to do to quiet yourself so that the Spirit’s voice can be heard within?  The Spirit’s Voice speaks to you: “You are my beloved, my chosen one, in whom I am well pleased!”  Can you hear it? 

 –Sr. Donna McGartland, January 12, 2025