The Beauty and Importance of Baptism
My Dear Parishioners,
One of the greatest joys of my priesthood is when I Baptize babies. When I Baptize babies, I always think that I become an important part of the history of that family. I also become an avenue of Grace for the baby who is Baptized. So, it is also a joy for me when I get to discuss the beauty and importance of Baptism with brand new parents.
Our theology of Baptism is based on two passages from the Holy Gospels. The first comes from the Gospel of St. John: Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely, he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit” (John 3: 1-6).
The other passage from the end of the Gospel of St. Matthew: The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 16-20).
These two passages give us why we must be Baptized, and how we are to be Baptized. We must be Baptized to enter into the Kingdom of God. Baptism itself must be done as Jesus taught us: with water and in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is so good and so loving. He gave us Baptism to wash away Original Sin. The Blessed Apostle St. Paul teaches of the existence of Original Sin: For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life (I Corinthians 15: 21-22). St. Paul then affirms that Baptism allows us to share in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus: Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection (Romans 6: 3-5).
How beautiful! Baptism does so much more than simply wash away Original Sin. With Baptism, we are truly born again; we are made disciples of Jesus; we are configured to Jesus Christ; we become brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus; we become vessels of the Holy Spirit; we become children of God and heirs of Heaven; we become worthy to share in the other Sacraments, most especially that Sacrament of Sacraments, the Most Holy Eucharist.
What a gift! What a sign of Jesus’s love for us! How can anyone refuse Baptism? How can anyone deny a tiny baby the beautiful and powerful gift of Baptism?
Let us offer a prayer of thanksgiving for those who made sure that we were Baptized. Let us offer a prayer for thanksgiving for the priest or deacon who Baptized us. Let us continue to encourage our family, our friends, our neighbors, to have their babies Baptized. Let us also share in their joy when they do. I know that I do.
St. Joseph, Patron of the Church and our Patron, pray for us!
Rev. Michael J Pawelko, Pastor