Baptism of the Lord

Click here for the Baptism of the Lord Readings.

“Thus says the LORD: All you who are thirsty, come to the water!” These words from our first readingis an invitation to partake in the wonderfulness of our God. We all thirst at the depths of our being to be one with God and the Sacrament of Baptism provided the means by which we receive the grace to be initiated into the Body of Christ.

Jesus came down to the river Jordan to be Baptized, not because He needed redemption from sin, but because He was to lead us back to the Father. So, Jesus took sin upon Himself so, we who are sinners, would have forgiveness of

our sins. Through Baptism, we become adopted children of the Father and heirs to the kingdom prepared for us for all eternity. Our ancestors in faith wondered in the desert in searching to fulfill the longing in their hearts to know the one true God. We search within the depths of our hearts to grow in relationship with the one true God who is revealed to us in the sacrament of Baptism.

When I prepare parents for Baptism, I ask several questions. One of the questions is, “Why are you having your children Baptized?” Most parents have a vague idea of the reasons but overwhelmingly it comes back to the premise that we are Catholics, and this is what Catholics do.

Baptism is the first sacrament of initiation into the Body of Christ through which the grace of all the sacraments flow. We are loved into existence and are created intrinsically good, but the sacrament of Baptism elevates that goodness to a supernatural level. We become sanctuaries of the Blessed Trinity who dwells in our hearts. Our families are formed into the domestic church through the sacrament. Individually, we approach God, not as beggars with no status, but as adopted sons and daughters who approach God and call out “Abba” which translates as “Daddy”. We receive the grace through the sacrament to proclaim the wonders of God in the assembly of the faithful and proclaim Him in towns and villages throughout the world. Through the sacrament we become the incarnation of love and are called to go forth sharing that love with all we encounter.

Today, we celebrate what Nicodemus desired when Jesus told him he must be reborn of water and the Spirit. We are reborn by water and the Spirit and given the grace to grow in the life of the Spirit.

When we are overwhelmed by the things of the world and say we cannot, the sacrament of Baptism tells us we can. When we have doubts of faith, Baptism gives us the understanding and the knowledge to grow in holiness. And when we feel insignificant, the sacrament of Baptism anoints us with an indelible sign that claims us for Christ for all eternity and tells the world we belong to God and no one else.

May God continue to bless you and may the sacrament of Baptism help us all grow in holiness.

Deacon Phil