Lamb of God

This week’s Gospel is important because it is a reading that may touch both believers and also people who have not yet accepted Christ. This week, the reading focuses on the sacrament of Baptism – a sacrament that is fundamental to the notion of salvation. Salvation is something that all people “need”, yet which not all religions can offer. Indeed, in fact, it is not “religion” which offers salvation, but a “person”. It is Jesus Christ only, who is both human and divine, who can offer us and bring us to salvation. No amount of rule-following or ritual can ever save us. Rather, it is our participation in His grace, in His love, and in His mercy that can change our hearts and bring us to the “new Self” that St. Paul famously speaks of! 

But what does all this have to do with Baptism? Are we saying that only those Baptised can be “saved”? No. One’s salvation depends on the state of one’s heart – on their spiritual condition. This is known only by God. God understands the fact that some individuals have not been exposed to Christ in a ‘correct way’ (i.e. and hence, have a wrong idea of him) – He also knows that some have not been exposed to Him at all. Thus, this is by no means a black and white issue. What is certain, however, is the fact that those who do not experience the Sacrament of Baptism have it more difficult spiritually. Such persons have not been opened to receiving certain graces. They have not had certain parts of their self ‘activated’. 

Baptism is often expressed in terms of water because it cleanses. Indeed, Baptism is that which removes our “old Self”, tainted by original sin and egoism, and gives us the help we need in order to be “less egoistic”. Baptism doesn’t make us perfect. It does not remove our disposition to sin! However, because it is a Sacrament, it gives us the grace that we need in order to battle “sin” more easily – if we are open to this. This is why in Baptism we receive a new identity, together with a mission, or missions (i.e. plural). This is because Baptism gives us new possibilities – the primary possibility being – “holiness”. Thus, Vernon McGee writes, “in order to live a life of holiness, we must first receive new life from God – we must be born from above”.

The reason why Christ himself got baptised is to show us both how this sacrament should take place, and also how much he loves us. Jesus not only became human, but wanted to experience the lowest depths of humanity. He was humble enough to accept being perceived as a sinner needing cleansing! We need not be ashamed of being cleansed – particularly through the Sacrament of Confession. The latter is a Sacrament that builds upon the Sacrament of Baptism because it cleanses our soul from sin each time we approach it with a repentant heart:

You have all been clothed with Christ by your baptism in him. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor freeman; there is neither male nor female; you are all one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:26-29