Father Lawir Reflection on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Stained-glass depiction of St. John the Baptist baptizing Jesus.

This weekend we celebrate the baptism of our Lord and Savior.  With this, we recall our own baptism. Baptism originates in the explicit command of Jesus himself. After his resurrection, he entrusted this mission to the Church: “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” (Matthew 28:19). Thus, baptism is not optional; it is the ordinary means established by Christ for becoming his disciple. St. Paul explains that through baptism we are united to the Paschal Mystery: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death so that as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism allows the Christian to die to sin and rise to a new life in Christ.

From the very beginning of the Church, baptism was proclaimed as the means of forgiveness and new life: “Repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). It washes away original sin and all personal sins committed before baptism. Baptism effects a real transformation in the person. According to Catholic teaching, it brings about several profound spiritual realities:

  1. New birth as a child of God: Jesus told Nicodemus: “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). In baptism, a person is reborn, becoming an adopted son or daughter of God and a member of His family.
  2. Incorporation into Christ and the Church: Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ, the Church: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13). It is the sacramental doorway into the life of the Church and to all the other sacraments.
  3. Gift of the Holy Spirit: The baptized person receives the Holy Spirit, who dwells within, sanctifies, and guides the Christian life.
  4.  An indelible spiritual mark: Baptism imprints a permanent spiritual character on the soul. This is why baptism is received only once; it marks a person forever as belonging to Christ.

The significance of baptism for a Christian life:

  1. A call to holiness: Baptism is the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith. The baptized Christian is called to live according to the Gospel, renouncing sin and striving for holiness.
  2. A share in Christ’s mission: Through Baptism, every Christian shares in Christ’s threefold mission as priest, prophet, and king: Priest: offering one’s life as a spiritual sacrifice to God. Prophet: witnessing to our faith through words and deeds. King: serving others in love and working against sin and injustice.
  3. Foundation of Christian identity: Baptism defines who a Christian is. Before any role or status in the world, the baptized person’s deepest identity is that of a beloved child of God.