Baptism is New Life

This Sunday, The Feast of the Lord's Baptism, marks the end of the Christmas & Epiphany season. With this Sunday's liturgy, we go back, as it were, to the Ordinary Time. But it might be beneficial if we ask ourselves what the true meaning of this Feast, of Baptism is to us.

First perhaps is that Baptism means New Life. St. John the baptist baptizes with the baptism of repentance, a turning away from the old self to become a new being. In baptism, something has died in us (sin) and something has sprouted to life in us (grace). We have died to sin so that we will live for God. We are no longer of the world for we are of God. We are a new creation!

Second is that Baptism ushers in a new milestone for us. For Jesus, His baptism marks the beginning of His Ministry, of His life of service. For us also, our own baptisms signaled the beginning of our new life, our personal attempts and struggles to live a life of grace.

As we celebrate this Feast, let us beg then for the grace that we be true and sincere to our own Baptism, that we may live out to the fullest our baptismal vows -- our New Life! Amen.