Our baptismal day is the most important day of our lives. At Baptism, we become new creations of God and sharers in the divine nature (2 Pt 1:4) by being baptized into Jesus and especially into His death and resurrection (Rm 6:3ff). At Baptism, we were adopted as sons and daughters of God the Father. We were redeemed by Christ, and our bodies became temples of the Holy Spirit. Through Baptism, we share in Christ as Priest, Prophet, and King. We become holy, royal priests (1 Pt 2:9) and members of the body of Christ, the Church (1 Cor 12:13). At Baptism, the Holy Trinity begins to live within us and we within them.

Thus, the waters of Baptism are the most important waters of all. They are more important than oceans and rivers. They are even more important than the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, and the Red Sea.

However, the waters of Baptism can become the waters of Meribah, that is, waters of contention (see Nm 20:13). If we do not live our Baptisms faithfully, we are in a worse condition than the unbaptized (see 2 Pt 2:20-21). Live your Baptism in holy, joyful faithfulness.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Richard L. Klug, February 27, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 3, 2003