Baptism Homily

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today we, and the whole Church, celebrates with joy the beginning of new life in Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism. Baptism is the beginning of eternal life as our Lord says “ (RSV2CE) Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ” In Baptism we recieve God Himself as we know from St. Peter’s exhortation in the Acts of the Apostles “ (RSV2CE) And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ”

Salvation is not guaranteed like a service agreement paid with a one-time lump sum. I get baptized and maybe go to Mass at Christmas and Easter and then I am good. Salvation is essentially about a relationship with the Holy Trinity and being an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ every day of our life.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ”

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ”

Discipleship involves learning as in the Gospel of John it is written (RSV2CE) “ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.”

Discipleship involves following Jesus Christ “ (RSV2CE) And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ”

Discipleship involves obeying Jesus Chrsit “ (RSV2CE) If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

10 ¶ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ”

Discipleship involves Living for Jesus Christ and not ourselves “ (RSV2CE) None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 ¶ If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. ”

Taking Up One’s Cross

The purpose of discipleship is be more Christlike “ (RSV2CE) Put off the old man that belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. ”

Parents and Godparents, these children, will learn to be a disciple of Jesus Christ from you. They will learn from your choices and actions whether God is important or unimportant. They will learn to pray from you; they will observe whether prayer is important or just something that is done at school. They will learn their faith from you; they will observe to see whether the faith impacts your life or is just nice words. Parents and godparents, you are the most important person in your child’s faith life. If being a disciple of Jesus Christ is important to you, it will be important for them. Remember, through your words and actions you will lead them to “ (RSV2CE) And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

27 ¶ And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

22 Put off the old man that belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. ”

7 ¶ None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 ¶ If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. ”

23 ¶ And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ”

45 ¶ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.