What Does It Mean to Live Your Baptism? A Guide to Our Foundational Sacrament

Living your Baptism?  What does THAT mean?  It’s a good question to ask and to look at more closely.  For most of us, we may not fully appreciate what happens to us at our baptism.  One way to begin is to consider Jesus’ last words to the Apostles before ascending into heaven:  “…baptize in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit….” As they were his last words, we can be certain they are crucial to the mission. In this article, we will see why Baptism is so important to our ability to live as a follower of Christ.

1. Original sin is removed from our souls.  

   
   

One man’s disobedience leads to death for all; one man’s obedience leads to life for all. (1 Corinthians 15:21–22)  

The sin of Adam did not just affect Adam; it also affected his human nature—which means it affected our nature, as we inherited our very humanity from him.  That is Scripture’s teaching on the doctrine of original sin.  Baptism gives us a new nature, breaking the power of sin over us, so that we will no longer be its slaves. 

Every day we have the grace to resist sin.  But should we sin, it does not make us its’ slave, we are not captive to sin.  We repent, seek forgiveness or give forgiveness, and move on.  This is one way we live our Baptism.

2. We are brought into the family of the Catholic Church. 

Catholicism is recognized as the first Christian denomination, with Peter as its first leader. When we are baptized, this spiritual family becomes our family.  We are not left alone.  We have a community of believers, who are now our brothers and sisters, who will support us, love us, mentor us, teach us and help us through this life.  The Catholic Church has become our spiritual home.  THAT is awesome.  Like all families, we have our differences, our weaknesses and failings, but we belong to a Church that Jesus Himself founded. “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” (Mt. 16:18)                                                                                                      

Worshipping with our spiritual family on Sunday, meeting a Church ministry need, visiting those among us who are sick or hospitalized; these are ways we live our Baptism.  

 

3. We receive the Holy Spirit

   
   

YES!  You read that right. When we are baptized, the Holy Spirit comes to us and will live within us our entire lives.  The 3^rd Person of the Trinity dwells in you. You are “sealed” forever as God’s own. Some may think at Confirmation we receive the Holy Spirit, but this is not so.  The person of the Holy Spirit comes to us at Baptism – a spiritual powerhouse now living within us.  Think of  yourself as an electrical cord and the Holy Spirit as the outlet.  Are you “plugged into” the power source?

Each day asking the Holy Spirit to lead us, or following those little nudges to generosity, to prayer, to helping a stranger.  These are a few ways we live our Baptism.           

Did You Know You Were Anointed at Baptism? The Mission of Priest, Prophet, and King         

Those are the 3 miracles of Baptism - Original sin removed, the Church becomes our family, and we receive the Holy Spirit. But there is more.  While you may not remember your own baptism or may have been distracted (understandably!) during the baptisms of loved ones in your life, after the baptism with water, each person baptized is anointed on the crown of their head with Sacred Chrism (blest oil) signifying our sharing in the mission of Jesus as Priest, Prophet, and King, wherein the priest prays:

"God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and welcomed you into his holy people.  He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation.  As Christ was anointed priest, prophet and king, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life." 

We are anointed at our baptism to live out these three roles:

Priest – A term meaning a person who offers sacrifices and intercedes for others. We do this when we “offer up” some difficulty as prayer for another person.  Have you not sacrificed things for your children?  Do we not pray for the needs of others?  Fast?  Every time we do such things, we are fulfilling our baptismal anointing/mission as Priest.  (Not to be confused with the ministerial priesthood when a man is ordained a priest.)

Prophet – We are called to be God’s prophets by speaking the truth, defending the Faith or morals in a difficult conversation, and witnessing by word or deed to our faith in Christ.  These are only some ways we live our baptismal anointing/mission as Prophet. 

King – A good King is a servant leader. Look at Jesus when he washed his disciples feet, showing them that serving is part of leadership.  He also led by doing good and healing the oppressed,  He went about doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)  And God is with us too.  For we are baptized and God’s spirit dwells in us!  Whenever and wherever we further peace, goodness, healing, or justice, we are living our baptismal anointing/mission as King.   

If you do not know the day you were baptized, I invite you to find out, because after your Birth day, your Baptism Day is THE most important day in your life!  YOU became a child of God, a priest, prophet and king.  PRAISE!