As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, I am drawn to ask “What does it really mean to be Baptised?”
Most of us were very young when it happened, and so we can be forgiven for not remembering much about the ceremony. So, I would like to go back to that day and reflect on just two prayers and anointings that we received …
First, we were anointed with the oil of catechumens with the words …We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Savior; may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. And immediately the Priest or Deacon laid his hands on us in silence. What does this mean to us, today? It means that no matter where we are or what we do, we are empowered by God. And that the Lord will give us strength to deal with all the issues that face us in life. Now, when we were a baby or a child, these issues were really rather small. But as adults, we face more challenges, more temptation, and sometimes we forget that there is a source of strength we can always tap into to help us face these challenges … God.
What followed this was profound…. it was an Anointing with Chrism
God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.
Hear these words again ……As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so were you …..Your call to be priest means that you were called, anointed, and commissioned to bring God’s love and his message of good news to the world …..Your call to be prophet means that you were called, anointed, and commissioned to speak out for what is true, for what is right, for what is Just …. Your call to be King or Queen is to recognize that human dignity comes, not from our gender, our age, our ethnicity, the colour of our skin or the size of our bank account, but rather that we are created in the image and likeness of almighty God, the creator of the universe.
When we were baptized, we were baptized into Christ and thereby immersed in His Holy Spirit. We are joined into Christ’s mission in order that we might realize it, to make it real in all that we think, say, and do. And then we were anointed, commissioned, and tasked to share in that mission. And sharing in that mission means that we are to live out the calling and commission we were all given at our baptism.
- It means that we are called to overcome our self-concerns, and care for those who suffer, for those less fortunate than we are, the outcasts, the sick, and the poor.
- It means that we are called to, like God, be ready to forgive, to bring peace into our family conflicts and to reconcile ourselves with those whom we have hurt.
- It means that we are called to build up those who feel they aren’t capable, those who feel they are without talents or abilities.
- It means that we are called to bring courage to the dispirited.
- It means that we are called to reveal the presence of God and the light of His love to those who suffer from hate and discrimination.
- It means that we are called to bring a vision of meaning and purpose to those who live in the misery of a life without purpose or meaning.
- It means that we are called to respect the dignity of all living persons no matter in what condition they may be.
This is what it means to be baptized…….and it is a calling, a commissioning that we have all received from God.
You are not an observer in the process of bringing to fruition the Reign of God. You are an active participant.
So, all that is left is for you to live out the calling that God gave you, and anointed you to, so many years ago. And in case you think yourself not up to the challenge, remember the words of the first anointing you were ever given – May he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
We have put on Christ, in Him we have been baptized. Alleluia, alleluia