The Baptismal of the Lord
"And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk. 3:15-16, 21-22)
At first glance, the question, "Where is your baptismal water?" might seem odd or inappropriate to ask publicly. Naturally, we know that baptismal water is located in the baptismal font at your church, so that response would technically be correct. However, let's dig deeper and explore the underlying meaning of my question.
We find our baptismal water flowing through the lives of those we encounter. Our Sunday school teacher or catechist taught us that we are priests, prophets, kings, or queens. As priests, our lives should be filled with active prayer, immersing us in joy, love, and concern. Like incense, we lift our hearts and minds for those who have forgotten how to pray or feel inadequate in their prayers. We only fail to pray when we don't make the effort to do so. As priests, through baptism, our prayers should aid us and others in strengthening their prayer life and experiencing joy on this Christian journey.
With our prophetic voice, we should address any issues that separate us from God's love by drawing inspiration from our baptismal font. With God's guidance through scripture, our words offer life and light rather than death and darkness. As prophets, we invite everyone to immerse themselves in the waters of hope, even in a world that can feel cold. Though the water may be chilly, our voices lifted toward God can warm our souls. Nothing can separate us from the love of God; our voices provide hope that will never disappoint. Our words should flow like our baptismal waters to quench a parched soul.
As kings and queens, our baptismal waters remind us of our duty to serve others, helping their lives to flourish. When we serve the marginalized and the poorest of the poor, we must provide them with the necessary provisions to survive and restore dignity. For example, we must save babies drowning in a river of uncertainty, not knowing where their next meal is coming from. Simultaneously, we must serve our community by confronting lawmakers who make babies malnourished by their decisions on who gets what from a food bank. Our baptismal experience should inspire us to turn the prayers of the faithful, spoken at our baptism—even if they were made fifty years ago—into reality. Kings and queens advocate for the rights and justice of their people, especially when there are delays or systemic oversights that hinder support for those in need, obstructing the flow of our baptismal waters.
I wish I could say that our baptismal water flows in the spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who dreamed of "... justice [rolling] down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream." Unfortunately, I am not satisfied with how our baptismal water flows within the Catholic Church. Our congregations are declining in numbers, even though we have prayed for our members to live a life of being priests, prophets, kings, and queens.
In many cases, after confirmation, many of our members have not returned to a classroom setting to study the Catholic faith as adults. Did they experience poor catechesis or encounter an inexperienced catechist? Furthermore, many of our homilies seem to encourage the faithful to pay, pray, and obey instead of caring for the poorest of the poor or addressing ways to promote true equality in our churches and schools. When was the last time you heard a homily addressing racism or the various wars our country is participating in?
As John the Baptist said, we need some Holy Spirit fire in our baptismal waters: "I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to untie the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Luke 3:16).
For this reason, I am filled with joy as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. On that day, when the sky opened, the dove descended upon Jesus, and God spoke: "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased'" (Luke 3:22).
Sr. Dr. Servant of God Thea Bowman once said, "A catechesis that doesn't enliven catechists will certainly not energize those being catechized." Sr. Thea emphasizes the importance of catechists studying their faith so that they can teach with passion, much like Jeremiah, who exclaimed, "It is as if fire is burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding back; I cannot!" (Jeremiah 20:9). For Jeremiah, the Word of God was like a consuming fire.
Furthermore, the Church teaches that "all clergy must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through diligent reading and careful study, especially the priests of Christ, as well as deacons and catechists actively engaged in the ministry of the word. This is essential so that none of them become 'empty preachers of the word of God outwardly, who are not listeners to it inwardly.'"
Are you actively learning to be a better prayer warrior? Are you studying the prophets to strengthen your prophetic voice? Are you serving those who need a mediator to stand for justice? Our baptismal water stops flowing when we become empty of the Word of God.
Fulfill your baptismal promise by teaching and preaching joyfully; you are God's beloved.
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Author: Evang./Prof. Michael Howard, MACS
Facilitator, University of Dayton, VLCFF,
University of Notre Dame, McGrath Institute, STEP Online,
Lead Faculty and Course Designer "The Presence of Black Catholics in the Church Today and Tomorrow" Loyola Marymount University,
Founder of Eat the Scroll Ministry
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