Rituals of purification by washing or bathing are found in all religions, both ancient and modern. But each religion puts its own interpretation on the meaning and purpose of rituals. In the Christian tradition, baptism removes the stain of original sin and initiates us into the family of faith.
Secret societies have secret handshakes. Exclusive clubs have membership cards. Secure websites have passwords. In all these ways, groups or individuals create identifying marks for the purpose of gaining entrance to private settings, or rightly discerning other members of the same organizations.
Does the Church have such a mark? We do not have secret handshakes, or passwords, or even membership cards. Ours is not an exclusive club. We are not trying to keep others out at all. Just the opposite, we are inviting everyone to join. But we do have some marks that identify us as the people of God.
Baptism is a symbolical acceptance of the Covenant, of the Ten Commandments. Baptism opens the doors to the other sacraments. All religions and organizations have ‘initiation’ rites, and public ‘oath’ taking and Hall of Fame ceremonies.
Water and the sun were the two most ancient symbols of the Creator, God, mover of the universe. The catechism teaches us about three types of baptism: water, desire and fire. Baptism of desire refers to those who wish and are well disposed to be baptized
and would have been accepted into the family of God, but are unable to actually
receive the official sacramental signs. Baptism of Fire is a term used to signify that,
even though many people did not actually receive the sacrament of baptism of water,
they are considered ‘accepted’ into the family of God because of their martyrdom,
persecution or death on account of their faith.
Baptism of water, the traditional and sacramental rite, was always performed under two forms: sprinkling or pouring of water over the forehead or the actual immersion of the candidate into a pool or river of water.
Other major religions, like Hinduism and Buddhism, have similar rituals in their worship and purification practices.
This expression of “going back to death and coming back to a new life” has been used not only in the context of religion, but in the various forms of life in the universe: plants, animals and humans. A plant dies and is used as new seed that will
grow into a new flower and leaves. We know of animals who die soon after giving birth or spawning, laying the eggs in the rivers. The sun sets in the west, only to return again. This death/life process was to acquire a new meaning by the coming of Christ and offering his own life and rising to show us the way to the Father.
Baptism, truly lived and witnessed, is just that, a return to a new life. Maybe that’s why people began to use the expression “Born Again,” when they ‘walked’ back to their childhood innocence and embrace religious practice.
Politicians running for office begin their campaign with an official public announcement; financial and marketing companies take a leap from private ownership to public exchange. They “go public.”
Baptism, therefore, identifies us with God, as well as it claims our role as God’s followers. Baptism may not seem like a big step, but it forms the foundation, establishes the pattern, for all the good deeds that will follow.
Baptism, finally, puts us in a position to receive the blessing of God. We are God’s beloved children, and with us He is well pleased! Once we become aware of these words, we can never be the same. We can never doubt or deny God’s unconditional
love for us. We can never take God’s love for granted.
When children are brought to receive Baptism, the very first thing that happens is that the priest or deacon asks the parents, “What name do you give your child?” In this moment the child is given an identity. This identity is bigger than just the name Sarah, Mary, Peter or Paul. The name the child is given is “Christian.” This is our identity.