GoW Homily ­– Baptism – Sunday, August 1, 2010

 As most of you know, I’m a practicing Roman Catholic. I’m what is euphemistically called a “cradle Catholic,” meaning I was raised by very Catholic parents, with an expectation to follow all of the Church’s practices, rites & rituals, right from the start. That means that, in the same way Beth shared last week, I was baptized as an infant, and later confirmed, at around age 12. And much as it was for Beth, even though I chose confirmation, it was in an atmosphere of social and religious expectation: “This is what we do!”

Since I have no memory of my own baptism, what could it possibly mean to me now?  It wasn’t a personal choice I made, then or now.  If I were to compare my baptism to a marriage to the Church, then mine was an arranged one.  To the Anabaptists in the crowd, there may not seem to be much connection in that kind of baptism to Markus Barth’s 4 points, which Craig outlined several weeks ago.  But let me try to make the case anyway…

1. Publication:

My baptism was performed by our parish priest, in the parish church my parents attended at the time.  This much I know from my baptismal certificate.  (Catholics are big on keeping records, so they’ve got the publication angle covered, at least in that regard.)

But seriously, my baptism was most likely done at a small, private ceremony for the family, the godparents, and maybe a few close friends.  Not the most public of declarations, I’m afraid.  Fortunately, since Vatican 2, most Catholics today would baptize their children in a more public way (usually at a Sunday Mass), dedicating themselves to raise the child as a Christian (with the support of congregation)

But not all Catholics are “cradle Catholics.”  Many join the Church as adults, or possibly as adolescents. For them, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults is an intense process involving several different public rites, over a period of several months. At the Easter Vigil, these rites would include baptism, a public declaration of faith, confirmation, and finally, communion.

For the rest of us that have already been baptized, the Easter Vigil also provides an opportunity for the public renewal of our baptismal commitment. (I’ll say a bit more about that at the end.)

2. Association:

I see baptism as a rite of initiation into the Church, with all the nuances that may come with that particular association. While we Christians today may not be viewed in the same way as the “outlaws & outcasts” with which Jesus chose to associate in His day, we are certainly not always viewed in a positive light either. And that’s justifiably so. Regardless, through our baptism, we become associated with Christians everywhere, imperfect and flawed and sinful as we all may be.

3. Humiliation:

When you walk into a Roman Catholic parish that has been redesigned since Vatican 2, you’ll likely notice the baptismal font prominently placed at the entrance to the church.  Continuing up the central aisle, a large cross is typically placed above or behind the altar.  This is meant to be symbolic not only of the journey of Christ, but of His followers as well, beginning with baptism and leading to an acceptance of potential personal suffering and the way of the cross.  In that way, we too should be ready and willing to empty ourselves, as Christ did.

4. Ordination:

Now this one may be a bit tricky, coming from a denomination that has such a long tradition of holy orders and particular roles assigned exclusively to ordained clergy.  But, as Catholics, we do believe that every Christian is expected to join Christ in His mission as prophet, priest & king.  While the term “ordination” may have a special meaning reserved for clergy, we are nonetheless all commissioned into a priestly role, including lay members.  The importance of active participation by the laity in the life of the Church was reaffirmed in Vatican 2.  I imagine that’s a position not too far from asserting the priesthood of all believers.

Imaginings:

Speaking of imagining, in her homily last Sunday, Beth spoke beautifully of her imaginings of what baptism looks like.  She spoke of imperfect individuals being baptized by other imperfect individuals.  I would agree with what she said, and share a similar imagining, but would add to that my imagining of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on the baptized (as was the case for Jesus in Matt 3:16), and a voice from heaven saying “these are my sons and daughters, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”  I would also imagine that same Holy Spirit giving to the baptized the grace to live into the commitment made, throughout their lives.

So, how do I reconcile that imagining with the reality of my own baptism? A baptism of which I have no memory?  From a Church whose Faith I felt very little connection with during my teen years, and that I left for over a decade in my adulthood before eventually finding my way back?

Renewal:

I see baptism not as a culmination, but as a beginning of a long journey, one that will have many bumps along the road, and for which we may never feel personally prepared. But, as today’s readings suggest, we should not rely on our own means and our own treasure for future security, but rather put our trust in God to take care of our needs along the way. So, living into my baptism is a life-long journey, one that I commit to continue day by day, year after year.

I see my baptism as a one-time event, and don’t feel a need to be re-baptized.

However, in the same way a married couple may choose to mark a significant anniversary with a public renewal of their vows, I also choose to renew my baptismal commitment every once in a while.  This might be as part of a formal rite at the Easter Vigil, or by the simple gesture of dipping my fingers in holy water and making the sign of the cross.  These acts of renewal serve as important reminders, to publicly re-declare my association with the Church, humbling myself to continue following Christ in the way of the cross, as a commissioned disciple.

Some choose their baptism of their own free will, while some have it thrust upon them. Either way, the commitment to live into our baptism is ours to claim, and reclaim, by the grace of God.