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Credo ut intellegam, et intellego ut credam Next Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, and at the same time, the First Sunday in Ordinary Time, marking the end of the liturgical season of Advent/Christmas. The Lord’s Baptism is one of the three events of His life that traditionally constitute His “Epiphany” or “manifestation” of Himself to the nations: 1) the visit of the magi (Mt 2:1-12), 2) the Baptism of the Lord (Mt 3:13-17 and parallels), and 3) the miracle at the wedding feast at Cana (John 2: 1-12). This feast offers us the opportunity to recall that “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.” “The Lord Himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands His disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.” Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptized in the faith of the Church. For this reason the Church continues to encourage the baptism of infants: “The Church and parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.” This does not mean that Baptism automatically assures salvation for its recipient. “For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism.” “Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs.” For the grace of Baptism to unfold, parents and godparents must nurture it as a seed planted in the soul. This is the reason that the Church requires godparents (sponsors) to be practicing Catholics who have received all the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation). The task of the godparents is no mere honorary role or title. Theirs is “a truly ecclesial function”, that of safeguarding and nurturing the seed of faith planted by the Holy Spirit. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. Therefore, by their word and example, parents and godparents, in conjunction with the whole Church, help that seed, planted by the Holy Spirit, to grow into a mature faith. |
El Bautismo: el mejor regalo que unos buenos padres entregan a su hijo Algunos padres “modernos” (no todos ¡gracias a Dios!) deciden no bautizar a sus hijos al nacer. Tienen la idea equivocada de que al hacerlo, están “imponiendo ” a los niños un credo o religión, y optan por dejarlos en libertad para que cuando crezcan y tengan uso de razón decidan por si mismos. Los padres que así piensan lo hacen por ignorancia, por no conocer su fe. El bautizo no es una imposición, es un regalo que recibe el recién nacido. Cuando el bebé enferma, los padres no le preguntan si quiere recibir la medicina, o si esta de acuerdo con que lo lleven al doctor. Simplemente lo llevan asumiendo los padres la responsabilidad de elegir lo que ellos consideran que es lo mejor para su hijo. El bautismo otorga una medicina espiritual, que no solo cura el pecado original, sino que llena de abundantes frutos el corazón de quien lo recibe. El Bautismo nos hace hijos de Dios. San Luis, que fue rey de Francia, cada vez que bautizaba a uno de sus hijos les decía: “Mi querido hijo, hace un momento solo eras hijo mío, pero ahora eres también hijo de Dios!” Cualquier padre que se entere que su hijo ha nacido con algún defecto físico, por muy pequeño que fuera, buscará el remedio y se lo proporcionará de manera inmediata. El Bautismo nos borra el pecado original, borremos este defecto spiritual, y ¡demos infinitas gracias a Dios por tan inmenso regalo! |
