(Listen to this homily here).
It is one of the most important days of my life today. Nope, it’s not my birthday. Nope, it’s not my anniversary of my
ordination. On April 29th,
1984 I was baptized.
My
parents had a tradition of having our Baptism candles lit on our Baptism
anniversary every year. We had a
special meal and even got a gift.
I’m eager to see if they sent a check in the mail to honor this
tradition! Though I’m kidding
there, I guarantee I’ll get a message from them today.
Two
of our students here at school will be baptized this coming month. What was really cool—they were asking me to be baptized.
In
addition to the sacrament itself—being immersed or dunked in water while the
priest/deacon says, “N, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit”—the baptismal candle represents the light of
Christ. My parents and godparents,
our two students’ parents and godparents and so on with every baptized person,
is entrusted with the light of Christ.
It is to be kept burning in the darkness of the world.
We
can never underestimate how essential Baptism is in each of our lives. May we live in this truth today holding
the light of Christ well.
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