Baptized and Becoming: The Journey of a Lifetime

As I sit down by the brook near my home, I think of the feast that we are celebrating this weekend: the baptism of the Lord! We all know what the meaning of baptism is. I would tend to say that baptism is not merely a one-time event from our past; it is the very foundation of our entire Christian life. It is the gateway through which we become children of God, and the seed of Christlike living is planted in our souls.

This sacred journey requires patience, much like a gardener tending to young apple trees. The gardener’s impatience for fruit can lead him to sacrifice the future for immediate comfort, cutting down the very trees that promised a harvest. Our spiritual lives can mirror this struggle. We want instant holiness and immediate answers, but God’s work in us is a process of growth.

We see this perfectly in Jesus’s own life. He did not begin his public ministry until the age of 30. For three decades, He “grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and men.” This was not wasted time; it was a period of essential maturing and preparation. His baptism in the Jordan was not the beginning of his identity, but the moment he stepped forward to begin his public work—the harvest of salvation.

 Our baptism sets us on the same path. The sacrament that began with water is continued by everything that happens in our lives. We are baptized by trials, which purify us; by suffering, which teaches us compassion; by joy, which reveals God’s goodness; and by love, which helps us blossom. Each experience is a part of our ongoing “christening,” the lifelong process of being formed into the image of Christ. This process cannot be rushed. If it took Christ 30 years to prepare, we must be patient with ourselves and others over a lifetime. We are not called to perfection by tomorrow but to faithful growth each day.

Therefore, let us not write off any season of our lives as useless. Whether our work feels grand or obscure, it is an opportunity to grow in grace. Nourished by the Holy Spirit and supported by our Christian community, we can embrace this lifelong journey, trusting that God is faithfully bringing the seed planted at our baptism to a glorious harvest.

Father Anthony Korir, SMA
Pastor in solidum of the Parish of the Precious Blood, Caribou