Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Lk: 3:15-16, 21-22) "Baptism Challenge"

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Lk: 3:15-16, 21-22) “Baptism Challenge”

        My first religious education experiences revolved around the Baltimore Catechism.  Like other people I would memorize answers to religious questions.  It’s interesting to go back to look at what I committed to memory.

        For instance, when asked about Baptism three ideas were presented:

  1. Baptism gives us the new life of sanctifying grace and makes us heirs of heaven.
  2. Baptism takes away sin and all the punishment due to it.
  3. The effects of Baptism are that we become members of the Church and subject to its laws.

 

      When we reflect on these three statements, we would have to say that none of these were reasons for Jesus’ Baptism.  He didn’t need to have a relationship with God.  Jesus was God.  We believe Jesus didn’t commit sin, so he did not need to be forgiven.  He didn’t need to join the church.  He started our religion.  So, why did Jesus want to be Baptized?  Obviously, it was an important moment for him.  We could ask if Jesus’ reasons for Baptism have anything to do with us.

The wonderful thing about sacraments is that they have all kinds of Theological underpinnings.  Jesus was at a moment of reckoning in his life when he was baptized.  He moved from living on the periphery of the religious community to engaging in public ministry.  Sacraments mark transitional moments in our life.  At Baptism we mark the beginnings of our relationship with Christ.  Baptism may come when we are infants in our parents’ arms, but it may also come later.  Whenever it comes, it can change our life.

    We see that more clearly if Baptism takes place as an adult.  I think of someone like Dorothy Day whose petition for beatification was just sent to Rome.  Dorothy Day was the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement in the 20th Century.  She began her life with little religious background.  She was very hedonistic as she lived her young adult years in the roaring twenties.  She drank, she believed in free sex, she had at least one abortion.  But then she had a daughter out of wedlock.  She had someone else’s life to worry about. She wanted her daughter to have a different upbringing, a religious one.  Dorothy asked that her daughter be baptized.  She then decided to be baptized herself.  Baptism marked a turning point in her life.  She began a life dedicated to service to the poor.  She also became a social activist.  Her writings called others to live as Christ did.  Dorothy Day’s baptism marked the moment when she started life over.  She tried to live chastely and ethically in her personal live.  But it had an even deeper impact.

Her baptism was a lot like Jesus’ baptism.  She chose to become a very public figure.  She started a Catholic Newspaper.  She started homeless shelters and soup kitchens.  Her Christian life was a challenge to others.  She was attacked for her stance on non-violence.  She was vilified because she wanted people to share material goods.  Dorothy day wrote in support of equal rights for all.  She was against racism and sexism.  Her bishop was asked to silence her. 

We remember today that Baptism is mostly about conversion.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church that came out at the end of the 20th century had a different emphasis.  It says:

Baptism is the basis for the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door to all the other sacraments……Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration. 

We could also say that all ministry flows from Baptism.  At baptism we are challenged to serve.  Jesus was baptized at the beginning of his mission.  He stood with sinners in a line to be Baptized.  Jesus never wanted to be above others.  He wanted to be united with others. His baptism can be a model for our own. 

Today is a good day to contemplate the meaning of Baptism on our life.  For people like Dorothy Day, who are baptized as adults, the choice to follow Christ is very concrete.  For those of us who were baptized as infants the dynamic is a little different.  Hopefully, there is a turning point in our life when the choice of Baptism becomes tangible.  At that moment we say, “I choose to believe.  What am I going to do about it?”  Conversion is an ongoing reality for the serious Christian.  Wrestling with the meaning of our Baptism can be a daily challenge which can make our faith dynamic.

 

Reflection Questions:

 

  1. When and where was I baptized?  How has this impacted my life?
  2. Is Jesus’ baptism a model for mine?  In what way?

 

Dear Parishioners,

 

        During the last two years our online ministry has become more active.  This has been necessary because of constant quarantining we have all had to do.  Our Mass attendance is down significantly.  Is that different than other churches? No.  All church attendance has decreased fifty percent.  It makes no difference what church we are talking about or what religion.  This means that what we do in cyber space is very important.

        For that reason, we will be rebuilding our WEB page soon.  The present page has exhausted its life span.  Hopefully, a new page will offer us new opportunities.  The process will begin soon. The cost to do this could run several thousand dollars.  If you benefit from our online ministry (for instance if you watch our Masses) could you help us offset the costs?  If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, just send us a donation in a white envelope marked WEB page.  I thank everyone in advance for your donation.

 

May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you.

 

Fr. Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previous
Previous

The Baptism of The Lord

Next
Next

Homily: Friday of the Second Week of Christmas