Do you remember your Baptism? Probably not, since you were most likely an infant. I don’t remember mine since I was two months old, but when I baptize infants, children, and adults, I think about my own Baptism and where it has led me in life – notably to be writing this column.
Indeed, it has led me and fed me, especially in times of trouble and turmoil, frustration and futility. Baptism has led me to look at Jesus and embrace his promise of life after deaths. I say deaths in a plural sense since we will die to ourselves repeatedly through life. We will fail, fall down, be brought to our knees all for the sake of our vision, for love, for integrity, for faith. Yet Jesus is there with the promise of life. My Baptism has helped me be durable, be courageous, be principled, be resilient. Today we celebrate Jesus’ Baptism as an inspiration to us all.
When administering the Sacrament of Baptism, the rite calls for this prayer, and it hits home every time I say it: “I baptize you into the DEATH of Jesus and into the LIFE of Jesus.” Pretty awesome words. A person is being reminded (as is his/her family) that there will be difficult days ahead, mountains to climb, valleys to negotiate, dark days along with the days of exuberant joy. As a shield of armor, though, we receive the gift of Baptism. It will give us the fiery courage to go forth amidst adversity.
John the Baptist warned us that water is not the only thing involved in Baptism. He warns us that Jesus will baptize us with a fire to serve! Therefore, I made up my own “Fiery Mysteries of the Rosary” to complement the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious ones. Here is my list:
- Jesus overturns tables and yells at vendors, hucksters, and commercial leeches: “You brood of vipers!”
- Jesus’ Judgement of the Nations: “Where were you when I was a stranger, a prisoner, sick?”
- Jesus responds to Peter who tells him to take the easy way out: “Get away from me Satan”
- Jesus responds to Martha who is mad at her sister since she is doing all the work: “Your sister chose the better half.”
- Jesus responds to his mother and family knocking at the door: “These (here inside) are my brothers and sisters…”
This boy is on Fire. Are we? So today my friends in the Lord: Happy Baptism of the Lord! Now go set the world on fire.
