the greatest event of your life
"Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" —Romans 6:3
Your Baptism was the greatest event of your life and the basis for all the other great events in your life. However, many Christians are not aware of the "radical newness" of their baptismal life and the "immense, extraordinary richness and responsibility" of baptism (Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People, Pope St. John Paul II, 10, 61).
When we were baptized, we were baptized into Christ (Rm 6:3). The only experience which is even remotely like this is pregnancy, the time when a baby is inside the body of his mother. Imagine you could enter again into the womb of your mother (see Jn 3:4). What radical changes this would mean for you! Nevertheless, being baptized into Jesus has much more stupendous ramifications. Baptized into Jesus, we are in His death, burial, and resurrection and have the saving benefits of these events (Rm 6:3-5). In Jesus, there is no condemnation (Rm 8:1). We are redeemed, forgiven, and chosen (Eph 1:7, 11). We are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Pt 2:9). We spend our lives learning how to walk, talk, think, feel, work, pray, hear, see, and love in Jesus. We live our Baptisms.
Prayer: Jesus, may I celebrate my baptismal anniversary annually as a sign of living my Baptism daily.
Promise: "Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than Me is not worthy of Me. He who will not take up his cross and come after Me is not worthy of Me. He who seeks only himself brings himself to ruin, whereas he who brings himself to nought for Me discovers who he is." —Mt 10:37-39
Praise: Praise to You, risen Lord Jesus, Baptizer in the Holy Spirit (Mk 1:8). Alleluia!
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 22, 2017
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