Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (1/13/2008)

Dear People of Holy Name,

On this Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, I thought it might be good to share some thoughts on the Sacrament of Baptism and how we celebrate it as a community here at Holy Name. Baptism is one of the three sacraments of initiation along with Eucharist and Confirmation. In the early church, and still in the Eastern rites, the three sacraments were celebrated together at the time of baptism.

In the West since the early 4th century we have separated the three sacraments of initiation and celebrate them at different times during our human development. Each of the three sacraments has their own “form and matter.” For baptism it is the pouring of water and the use of the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” that make it a valid recognized celebration in the Catholic community.

That said, what makes baptism what it is, isn’t any magic associated with the action, but the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the community gathered. Just as the Spirit descended on Jesus in his baptism, our baptism shares in his, and celebrates the descending of the Holy Spirit upon our whole community. The sacrament comes alive and becomes real in the people who live in Christ, in whom they are baptized.

With this sense of baptism as a celebration of God in and among us, it is fitting that we rejoice to share the great love-of-God given to us with new members who join our communion. As a sacrament of initiation, it is the community gathered in Christ making him present, that allows the baptism to be real. For without a community there is no baptism.

I find celebrating baptisms during our masses a particular blessing to the whole community. As a parish family, we celebrate the gift of new life given to one of our families. We share this great joy as a celebration of the God-of-life among us, who is living and active. Our faith is made real as we share our lives and our common belief in the real presence of God. I don’t think it gets better than this or the presence of God more palpable.

All sacraments are communal celebrations. They are meant to celebrate the real presence of God among us and to build that real presence. Baptism is a sacrament to be lived each moment of our lives, and it is effective when we claim and see the real presence of God in our lives. For us Christianity isn’t just a ritual, it is a way of life sustained by our rituals. We go forth into the world to bring the presence of God we are nourished in, through our being together in Christ.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord today, we celebrate our being baptized into the life of Christ that we may share his life fully. It is this belief and this desire that makes us Christians; Christ-followers. Our final goal is to share in Christ’s death, that we might share fully in his resurrection and join him at the eternal banquet in heaven. That journey is today. Today is one leg of the journey, if you will, and our entering into the life of Christ, living in his spirit is what brings us to our goal, not just in death, but in this present moment now.

May we each hear God’s voice today saying, “This is my beloved son or daughter, on whom my favor rests.” May his voice be real for you and your hearts exalt in God’s goodness always.

In Christ's Peace, Fr. Leo