CATHOLIC FRONT: BAPTISM IS THE BEGINNING

BAPTISM IS THE BEGINNING

(Eastertide Post)

'He said to them, "Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15 -16)

What is Baptism?

Baptism is the first sacrament of Christian initiation. It wipes away the original and actual sins of the catechumens. It sanctifies them and makes them children of God. (John 3:3-6). Before baptism all are bastards - that is illegitimate, though, natural children of God. Baptism legitimatizes children of God, and creates a personal and living relationship between God and the baptized. (John 1:12-13)

Baptism is followed by two other sacraments of Christian initiation. They are: (i) Holy Communion - the body and blood of Christ. It is the nourishment for a new life in Christ (ii) Confirmation - which empowers the baptized with the Holy Spirit to witness for Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4). It is worthy to mention the seven sacraments which are: Confession (reconciliation) and Anointing of the Sick (healing). Holy Orders (priestly ordination) and Marriage are sacraments of christian service.

The Baptism of Water 

Baptism is Not the End

Baptism is the beginning and not the end of Christianity. The end is eternal life in heaven. God created human beings, without their consent and participation but he cannot save them without their consent and collaboration. Salvation, thus, is a partnership between God and his people. God gives the means and we do the work. Here are the God-given means of salvation: Eucharist, Scriptures, sacraments, and the sacramentals. The duties of the baptized are: obedience, prayer, fellowship, service and sacrifices (fasting, vigil, charitable works,).

And so does the scripture say, "A soldier on active duty wants to please his commanding officer and so does not get mixed up in the affairs of civilian life. An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules. The farmer who has done the hard work should have the first share of the harvest." (2 Timothy 2:4-6). Therefore, if your baptism into the Church is just the end; then you may live an unfulfilled Christian life - and also end up in hell fire. (Matthew 25 : 41; Revelation 21:8)

Weapons of Salvation

In fact, baptism is given to the believer, as munitions are given to a soldier. The baptized also receive the sacraments and the Holy Spirit, as a farmer receives seedlings and farming tools. A soldier who receives munitions and does not fight can win no battle. Instead, the enemy will capture them. Also a farmer who receives resources and does not cultivate will have no harvest.

The Word of God is the weapon of the baptized (Ephesians 6:17). The Holy Eucharist and the other sacraments are the supplies for vitality (John 6 : 48, 53 - 56). The Holy Spirit the Helper to the baptized in every circumstance (Acts 1:8) Then the sacramental devotions and other faith actions and activities are the efforts put in by the baptized to win the battle - against Satan and sin. With these the baptized are able to achieve their life mission and attain the eternal life. (Revelation 21:7) The perfect model we have is Jesus Christ. He entered in his public ministry (Luke 4:14-15), only after forty days of wandering in the desert and victory over Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). Thus baptism makes the believer a priest, King and prophet - like Christ; and with all the authority and the power to minister, to command and to reign; for Christ in the world (1 Peter 2:9-12).

Wandering in the Desert

So many catechumens feast and celebrate on the day of their baptism. But they must not forget that the next step after baptism is the crossing of the desert where their faith will be put to the test. The Israélites spent 40 years in the desert after crossing the Red Sea and before entering the land of Canaan. Their entry into the Promised Land was delayed for so many years because of their disobedience and lack of faith in God (Numbers 32:11-13). Jesus, however, spent only forty days in the desert, before entering his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11).

But what is the desert for those who are baptized today? The world of trials and tribulations, with all the adversities and challenges, distractions, oppositions, and mockeries that unsettle and discourage the baptized in the witness of their faith in Christ. This is why the zeal of Christianity begins to die down gradually after the day of baptism. Some become cold, others are lukewarm, while some backslide. And so many of the baptized leave the Church while complaining (as the Jews did in the desert) - and go wandering from one sect to another.

Vocation of the Baptized

Jesus, our Lord, has said, "If you are lukewarm I will vomit you out" (Revelation 3:16). Another scripture says, "Wherever there is a dead body the vultures would gather" (Luke 17:37). This is why non-practising Catholics can neither confess Christ nor witness to him in the world. And such people who are "dead" in their faith are fed on by the false pastors and prophets roaming around the Catholic Church, with false testimonies to win following.

But if catechumen are conscious and accept, from the onset, that their baptism is a recruitment into the Army of Jesus Christ, they would become set for battle and thirsty for victory beginning from the day of their baptism. In this way their victory will be sure and their fulfillment and eternal life guaranteed (Revelation 21:7).

The entry to the Promised Land for the baptized represents two things (1) the fulfillment of earthly life (2) the attainment of eternal life in heaven. Surely, the fastest and safest way of entering and achieving one's life mission is by putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) right after baptism. This is to overcome the flesh and Satan (as Jesus did). It is only then that one can achieve in life and also attain eternal life. If you live in sin and sleep in the faith, you may wander forever in the desert; and end up in hell fire. (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 21:8)

Let us pray:

O, Lord, JESUS, we thank you for the gift of baptism to the catechumens, especially on this Easter night. May the Holy Spirit, who took you to the desert, after your baptism, to give you victory over Satan, also carry all those who are baptized in your name, into the world and give them victory over the Evil One. And as true as the Angel ministered to you in the desert, may you also grant to the newly baptized, the help and protection of Guardian Angels as they go across the desert of the world, to enter into eternal life with you in heaven; Amen.

Catechist and Evangelist;

CATHOLIC FRONT MEDIA;

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