Waters of Baptism - Making Scripture Relevant
When I was a kid, I used to love to watch a baptism at church. I loved to watch the little baby, see how cute they looked in their white garment and hope the priest didn’t get water in the babies eyes to make them cry.
As I got older, I continued to love when there was a baptism during our service and would often get frustrated by the other adults around me who groaned because the baptism was going to make the service a wee bit longer. UGH people! You don’t get it!
One of the things I didn’t know as a child is that the prayers which are prayed at a Catholic baptism today are the same prayers prayed at your baptism (if of course you were baptized in the Catholic Church). Now as an adult, I listen intently to the prayers and reminisce about my baptism and my children’s baptisms. I reflect on the family members who were there to celebrate and often say prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of faith that was passed on. It’s like a mini family reunion!
It also bring me to reflect on how I am living out my baptismal promises. I made a commitment to myself several years back that I was going to change my perspective to not live like I WAS baptized (past tense), rather to live like I AM baptized (present tense). It was inspired by a talk by a man named, Terry Nelson Johnson while I was attending a week-long retreat on the campus of Notre Dame University. http://soulplayonline.com/ At the end of the presentation, Terry invited the individuals in attendance to come forward to one of a couple of bowls of water and do whatever felt appropriate. Some people dipped a finger in the water and gave themselves a sign of the cross which was the most common response. I immersed my hands and then put them to my cheeks. One gentleman sheepishly asked Terry if we could take one of the basins of water into the courtyard so it can be poured over him. I can tell you this for certain, those of us who were there experienced baptism on an entirely new level…we even saw a dove in the background! This is a true story!!!
Now, every baptism in the Catholic Church invites the community of baptized believers to renew their baptismal promises. The next time you attend one, perhaps you will more intently pray the prayers and renew your baptism with fervor. Let the waters of baptism refresh and renew you!
