Reflections 2013 : 06.10 : the most important day in life : We celebrate our own birthdays and those of others in grand style. Pope John Paul II was asked by a journalist when he was already the Pope, what the most important day in his life was. He answered , “The day of my baptism.” Among all the very important days in his life the Pope chose the day of his baptism. The reply may cause consternation to those who do not know the teachings of the Church. But if it surprises Catholics it is very sad, because of their ignorance of what baptism is and effects in us. Our birth gives us life on this earth, but we are born tainted with original sin and are purified through baptism. With purification baptism makes us a new creation because we receive divine life. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit live in us and make their home in us. As St.Paul describes it , we die with Christ and are raised up to a new life in Christ. This presence of the Trinity in the baptized Christian is lasting whereas the eucharistic presence of Christ in us lasts for a short while. Yet we attach greater importance to the transient presence of Christ in us after we receive holy communion, than to the life-long dwelling of the three persons of the most holy Trinity in us. Through baptism we become and remain temples of God . How many Catholics are aware of this great gift ? In the early church at baptism the person was immersed in a pool of water to signify his/her dying with Christ. Then he/she emerged from the pool rising with Christ and wore new clothes.. Now the person was a new creation sharing in the life of the risen Christ and drawing life from him. This is what Paul means when he speaks of being “in Christ” . As Paul says every moment of the day and night the three divine persons dwell in us . Paul never speaks of the baptized person being a temple of Christ. But he does speak of being a temple of God , or of the Father, or of the Spirit. “ Don’t you realize that you are God’s temple with the Spirit of God living in you “ (1Cor 3:16). “ ..that is what we are – the temple of the living God” (2 Cor 6:16).. “Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit” ( 1 Cor 6:19). THE DAY OF OUR BAPTISM CALLS FOR A GREAT CELEBRATION.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 12:35:32 +0000
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