Baptism has such significance – spiritually, historically and ecclesially – just for starters. As we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord this weekend, our readings offer some words and concepts that are the foundation for the ritual prayer that publically celebrates the sacrament. We hear of covenant, thirst, God’s word, love, commandments, begotten, the Holy Spirit and, of course, water.
As always the accounts of the Baptism of Jesus vary from Gospel to Gospel. Matthew’s account tells us that God says, “This is my beloved son…” as Jesus comes out of the water. We can infer from this statement that God is speaking to everyone; in fact, the whole world for the rest of time. Luke and Mark on the other hand tell us that God says, “YOU are my beloved son.” We may infer here that God is speaking directly to Jesus, but wants the whole world to know. This version carries with it a commissioning so to speak. He reveals the real identity of Jesus, and thus grounds his very mission and purpose here on earth.
John’s account does not include an actual baptism event for Jesus, rather emphasizes the importance of the role of John the Baptist and the distinction between being baptized with water (physical reality) and the Holy Spirit (spiritual reality). In fact, both come together in the ritual of Baptism that the church celebrates.
I find the richest symbolism of his Baptism is Jesus walking into the dirty Jordan river as if he is walking into the murkiness of human life, and the ritual carried out by John seals God’s desire, through Jesus, to be in the murky river of human life with us. God is with us when life is clean, cleansing, soothing and quenching. He is also with us when it is muddy, murky and dark. His immersion into the river of life with us is another marking of the full humanity of Jesus and conveys that he can understand and relate to our human nature.
The river or pool of water symbolizes life as well as the church into which Jesus is immersing himself. You have heard me say many times, ‘wherever there is water, there is life.’
Ecclesially, and even institutionally, the record of baptism is significant. The church wants to always accurately record a baptism because it celebrates the emersion of the baptized individual into the community or pool of the church. It is proof of the event that conveys the spiritual reality.
As Catholics, the record of baptism serves as a collector of all future sacraments because all other sacraments are rooted in baptism. Some practical items assist in this process:
- The place of your baptism is the permanent keeper of all of your sacramental records.
- Each time you prepare to receive another sacrament you must either produce proof of baptism or notify the church of baptism and request an updated baptismal certificate
- When the sacrament is received, that church automatically notifies the church of baptism so the ledger can be updated
- Each church also keeps separate First Communion and Confirmation records for additional record keeping
- Baptismal records are always stored in a fire proof vault or by other secure means in case natural disasters threaten the structure where they are housed
- When a parish closes, the baptismal and sacramental records are either moved to a neighboring church or archived at a special facility of the diocese.
- Other significant information such as annulments are also added to the baptismal ledger
- Our church is world-wide and thus these procedures are universal. Often people express anxiety by saying they were baptized in another country. That is of no concern because the record keeping of and requests for updated baptismal certificates is common practice all over the world.
- There can never be any record of the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation to preserve its
private nature so that sacrament is not included and there is also no record of the Anointing of the Sick because it can be received many times.
I strongly encourage you to have a baptismal certificate on hand. If you don’t have one, contact your church of baptism and they will forward it to you. Know that this is essential when your children or you are preparing for First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage.