{"id":1505,"date":"2007-06-23T22:37:00","date_gmt":"2007-06-23T22:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2007\/06\/homily-for-a-baptism.html"},"modified":"2007-06-23T22:37:00","modified_gmt":"2007-06-23T22:37:00","slug":"homily-for-a-baptism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2007\/06\/homily-for-a-baptism.html","title":{"rendered":"Homily for a baptism"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>
Since it’s the feast of the nativity of John the Baptist, some thoughts on baptism seem in order. I’ll be performing my first baptisms next Sunday. Here’s a draft of my homily.<\/i> <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

\u201cJesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n

Let me tell you about the Jordan River. <\/p>\n

A few years ago, my wife and I took a tour of the Holy Land. As part of the trip, we stopped by a place on the Jordan River, a spot where tradition holds that John baptized Jesus. It\u2019s now something of a tourist trap \u2013 you can buy water from the Jordan, and jewelry, and postcards, and rosaries. The parking lot is packed with tour buses. But, as part of the visit, you can walk down to the banks of the river and renew your own baptism. <\/p>\n

Our group set out to do just that. After browsing the gift shop, we gathered on the banks of the river \u2013 it\u2019s pretty narrow, the Jordan, and not very deep. At this spot it\u2019s actually more like a creek than a river. As the priest with our group prepared to begin the prayers, my wife looked down the shore. About 100 yards away, she saw a dozen or more people wearing white robes, wading into the water, being dunked. Those were the Protestants, being baptized in the Jordan. My wife was in awe. She pointed down the river and said, \u201cWhy can\u2019t we do that?\u201d <\/p>\n

We looked around and a few people shrugged and said, \u201cOkay, why not?\u201d So we made our way down into the water, wading up to our knees\u2026some of us up to our hips. But before the priest could start his prayers, several people in the water cried out and pointed into the river. <\/p>\n

The water was unexpectedly clear and clean — you could see all the way to the bottom. And what you could see was amazing. The Jordan was jam-packed with fish. Tadpoles, goldfish, fish of every size and shape, busily swimming between our legs. <\/p>\n

The Jordan River looked like the Belt Parkway during rush hour \u2013 except everything was moving. <\/p>\n

It was an extraordinary moment. This water was teeming with life. And I couldn\u2019t help but wonder if the water was like that on the day that Jesus was baptized. <\/p>\n

Mark doesn\u2019t give us any clues about that in the reading we just heard. He tells us that when Jesus climbed out of the water, the skies opened, the Holy Spirit descended, and God spoke. <\/p>\n

No wonder Mark didn\u2019t mention the fish. <\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have the Jordan River here this day \u2013 but we do have \u201cwaters teeming with life.\u201d In a few moments, these children will be baptized in these waters \u2013 blessed with new life. These babies will become new creations \u2013 officially, members of the Body of Christ. <\/p>\n

And everyone here will have a stake in what follows. <\/p>\n

We gather as a community to celebrate this, because we as a community will play a role in bringing these children up in the faith we proclaim. Baptism is not a solitary act \u2013 as we just heard, on the day of His baptism, even Jesus had company. It is an event that demands involvement. <\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if it takes a village to raise a child. But it takes a family of faith to raise a Catholic. <\/p>\n

Godparents will be the first witnesses to this baby\u2019s upbringing. You are the custodians of the faith. Keep your eyes, and ears, and hearts open. Is your godchild being taught to pray? Is your godchild being taken to mass? Are the fundamentals of the faith that we all know and love \u2013 the sacraments, the rosary, simple devotions \u2013 are they a part of this child\u2019s life? <\/p>\n

Parents and grandparents are the first role models for this child \u2013 the primary teachers. But what will you be teaching? <\/p>\n

From you, these children will learn respect. They will learn reverence and piety, patience and compassion. From you, they will learn how to get up when they fall, how to persevere when they have setbacks. <\/p>\n

Most importantly, from you, they will learn to love. <\/p>\n

Strive to make your home what has been called, so beautifully, the \u201cdomestic church\u201d \u2013 where every room is a sacred space. Be aware of it, and honor it. Every day, celebrate the gift of this new life in your family. Each moment you share with this child can overflow with grace \u2013 if you let it. <\/p>\n

You are embarking on the greatest adventure a family can know \u2013 watching a child grow. Take God with you on that adventure. The journey will be infinitely easier. <\/p>\n

And 15 or 16 years from now, trust me: you\u2019ll be glad you did. <\/p>\n

We\u2019re about to mark an important milestone on that journey. Savor it. Remember it. Take lots of pictures. Share them. And remember to tell your son or daughter about it as they grow up. <\/p>\n

Because these waters are teeming with life. <\/p>\n

And after this moment, your child\u2019s life will never be the same.<\/p>\n

Image: Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, Orlando, Florida<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since it’s the feast of the nativity of John the Baptist, some thoughts on baptism seem in order. I’ll be performing my first baptisms next Sunday. Here’s a draft of my homily. — \u201cJesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.\u201d Let me tell you about the Jordan River.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":365,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nHomily for a baptism - The Deacon's Bench<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2007\/06\/homily-for-a-baptism.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Homily for a baptism - The Deacon's Bench\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Since it’s the feast of the nativity of John the Baptist, some thoughts on baptism seem in order. 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