On this feast of the Baptism of our Lord, I can’t help but
think of the baptism of my own children.
Yesterday, January 8, is the Baptism Day of our first born, Joshua. It also happens to be our daughter-in-law’s
birthday! I wish I could have
transported myself to North Carolina to celebrate Ashley’s 30th
birthday and Joshua’s 27th Baptism day.
When our children were little, I tried to remember to do a
little something extra on their Baptism day and I am sad to report that I have
not held on to that tradition. I am
going to try harder this year to be sure to celebrate this important day in the
life of my children. I make it a point
to transfer those dates year after year on the new calendar, but I have failed
to properly celebrate the day that they became a member of God’s church.
I could not wait to bring my children to the waters of
baptism. At the time when Joshua and
Katherine were baptized, St. William only offered baptism after Mass, one
Sunday a month. When Deacon Harvey and
Fr. Mike began to offer for children to be baptized during Mass we jumped at
the opportunity because for us, this was a communal celebration. I still get goose bumps when I close my eyes
and remember my Anna, Elizabeth and Nathan being blessed by parishioners. Anna was blessed by Joe Owens who was near to
100 years old at the time of her baptism!
Oh my goodness, I got so choked up!
I love to watch the faces of parents as they stand at the altar watching
Father carry their child around the church for our blessings because I remember
that incredibly powerful moment. I will
forever cherish gazing upon the faces of Josh and Ashley as they watched their
first born, Addison, being blessed by our parish family!
Think about the awesome gift of Baptism – the opportunity to
be wiped clean – to be claimed, by the sign of the cross, as a child for
Christ, regardless of the age of a person when they are baptized. As baptized Christians, we are each claimed
for Christ “not
because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit”
but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit”
Titus 3:5.
Scripture assures us that we are not only washed clean by
the waters of baptism, but sealed by the fire of Holy Spirit, “He will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16b As Catholics
we celebrate this gift through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Let us keep in our prayers the eleven young
people of our parish who will be sealed the Spirit in February. One of these young people is our youngest
son, Nathan! Being the youngest of five
children, witnessing Nathan receive each of the sacraments has been especially
meaningful to me, but that story is for another day . . .
For now, let us imagine that the words our Father spoke as
His Son was baptized were also spoken on the day of our baptism . . .
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am
well pleased.”
Luke
3:22b
Shalom,
Tina
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