Homily for the Baptism of the Lord, Year C

 

Is40:1-5, 9-11

Ps 104:1-4, 24-25, 27-30

Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7

Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

 

St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, Burkburnett, TX

St. Paul Catholic Church, Electra, TX

Christ the King Catholic Church, Iowa Park, TX

Sheppard Air Force Base Chapel, Wichita Falls, TX

 

Do you remember your Baptism? Do you know on what day you were baptized? Do you celebrate the day of your Baptism? If not, that’s really a shame, because in Baptism, human beings pass from the death of sin into life. It is a joyous day to celebrate!

Our Psalm today reveals God’s promise to recreate the world. The imagery of the voice of the Lord hovering over the waters recalls the Spirit of God hovering over the waters in the creation account of Genesis 1. As the Spirit descended over the primordial waters and the earth came forth, so too in the Gospel the Spirit descends over the water of the Jordan and Jesus Christ comes forth, heralding the beginning of the new creation. In our Baptism, we are created anew. We come to Baptism in the darkness and non-existence of sin, in a state of separation from God where we lack His Spirit that gives life. We are submerged in the waters over which the Holy Spirit hovers, and we emerge like the dry land in Genesis and like Jesus in the Gospel – a truly new creation. St. Gregory of Nyssa beautifully described what happens to us in Baptism: “The reign of life has begun, the tyranny of death has ended. A new birth has taken place… our very nature has been transformed!”

Baptism is necessary for salvation (CCC 1257). In John’s Gospel Our Lord plainly stated, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5 RSVCE) The Church understands these words to mean that Baptism is the door to life and to the kingdom of God. Baptism is the normal means by which those who hear the Gospel are conformed to Christ and through which they share in the life of grace offered to all through the Paschal mystery. Baptism is necessary for salvation because it was commanded by Christ and because without it one cannot receive the other sacraments and the grace they impart. Be assured the Church is a loving mother and she understands that, through no fault of their own, there are many who never have the opportunity to hear the gospel or to receive baptism. In addition to Water Baptism, the Church recognizes a Baptism by Blood and a Baptism of Desire (CCC 1258-60). Those who suffer and die because of their faith are saved by their death for and with Christ. Catechumens in RCIA who die before baptism have shown by their words and actions a desire to be baptized and are therefore saved by Christ. Those who have never heard the gospel of Christ or been exposed to His Church, can be saved by sincerely seeking God and striving to live a good life by following the divine law planted within their conscience. I am often asked about children who die without Baptism. These the Church entrusts to the mercy of God (CCC 1261). Children hold a special place in the heart of Jesus; therefore, we have the hope that He will provide a way of salvation for children who die without Baptism. But we do not delay the Baptism of children because we want to ensure them the full participation in the eternal life of the Holy Trinity. It is the privilege and responsibility of parents to bring their child as soon as possible to the Sacrament of Baptism. Do not withhold this gift from your child!

Baptism is a grace and a gift of God and has many effects on the one who is baptized. Baptism forgives all our sins, both original and personal (CCC 1263). Baptism makes us a new creature and adopted sons and daughters of God (CCC 1265). Baptism is the first of the sacraments of initiation into the life of God, incorporating us into the church, the Mystical Body of Christ (CCC 1267). As such, each baptized person (adult or child) has a right to the love and help of the parish community to grow and develop the life of grace and faith. Baptism makes us members of the common priesthood of Christ, sharing His prophetic and royal mission to evangelize the world (CCC 1268). Baptism is the sacramental bond of unity among ALL Christians (CCC 1271) and so the Catholic Church recognizes the baptism of other Christian denominations provided they use the Trinitarian formula and true water. Finally, baptism imprints an indelible spiritual mark on our souls, therefore the sacrament cannot be repeated.

St. Luke’s account of the Baptism of the Lord confesses Christ Jesus as the manifestation of the new creation. By His Baptism, Jesus elevated the ritual washing of St. John the Baptist to a Sacrament. In our baptism, we participate in the Paschal mystery of Christ, dying to sin and rising again to the new life of faith. But our faith must be nourished to experience this new way of existence. If we do not believe the truth of what happens in Baptism, the reality remains true, but we will not experience the fruits of that reality.  

After our Baptism, if we are still living day by day for the lusts of this life – money, pleasure, power, fame, comfort, material goods – then we are actively undoing what Christ has done for us in Baptism. Today, let us meditate on the reality of the gift of the Spirit who renewed each of us in our Baptism. Let us faithfully live our Baptism daily! If necessary, let’s refresh the Sacrament of Baptism by going to Confession before next Sunday. May we all appreciate the gifts given to us in Baptism by our loving God. Let us rediscover our baptismal dates and celebrate them every year, just as we do the date of our birth. For it was at our Baptism our new birth has indeed taken place!

St. Joseph, Servant of Christ, Pray for Us!