Day 173: Brothers and Sisters in Baptism (1267-1274)

• It’s Day 173!!

• INCORPORATED INTO THE CHURCH, THE BODY OF CHRIST

• We are made members of the Church

• We are given a share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ

• THE SACRAMENTAL BOND OF THE UNITY OF CHRISTIANS

• Even those who are not Catholics!!

• We have a common sonship, daughterhood, brotherhood, and sisterhood

• AN INDELIBLE SPIRITUAL MARK…

• It cannot be erased

• Let’s pray!!

Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven, we give you praise and glory. We thank you so much for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ and the gift of your Holy Spirit you have poured out on the face of this Earth and you have poured into our hearts. We ask you to please unite us even more perfectly to your Church. Unite us even more perfectly to each other. Help us to see that we belong to each other, not only by virtue of our belonging to the human race, but even more particularly and even more powerfully that we belong to each other because of our fellowship, our friendship, and even our brotherhood in the fact that you have made us into your sons and daughters. Help us to know that you are our Father. Help us to live as if we are truly brothers and sisters. We make this prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen”

• So there we have it!!

• We are brought into the Church by Baptism

• We talked about other incredible consequences

• Baptism makes us new

• Baptism forgives us of our sins

• Baptism makes us into God’s own sons and daughters

• Today we learn that this is not just an individual thing

• IN FACT…

• Following our Lord Jesus Christ is not an individual sport

• IT IS A TEAM SPORT!!

• Baptism makes us MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

• Baptism BRINGS US INTO THE CHURCH

• THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND!!

• Go back to the Old Testament

• Whenever people were brought into covenant relationship with God, which is what Baptism does for the New Covenant, it was never a one on one thing

• Yes it is definitely personal

• Think of a man who is circumcised on the 8th day

• He is brought into this unique relationship

• He is now a part of the People of God and that is the key

• He now has a particular relationship with God Himself because he was brought into the Chosen People of God

• This is something incredibly similar 

• All the stuff in the Old Covenant is now fulfilled in the New Covenant

• If you were Baptized, you now have this individual personal relationship with God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

• It is unique and infinite

• It is also infinitely unique

• At the same time, that relationship is there because now you are a part of the Body of Christ, the Church

• THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND!!

• It is PERSONAL

• BUT…

• IT IS NOT PRIVATE!!

• Just like sin

• Sin is personal but it is not private

• Because we belong to each other, none of our sins are private

• Even the secret ones

• They are communal because we belong to each other

• Paragraph 1267 says, “‘For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.’”

• THAT IS INCREDIBLE!!

• It also gives us a lot of responsibilities

• Paragraph 1269 says, “From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and to ‘obey and submit’ to the Church’s leaders, holding them in respect and affection.”

• This is what it is to be part of the Christian faith

• Although Catholics have maintained and held onto this, this is not just for Catholics

• If you are going to be a believer and hold onto the belief that Jesus Christ has truly died, is truly Risen, and truly sits at the right hand of the Father, it means you adhere to the Apostles and what they believed

• From now on, your life is not your own life

• This is the massive expectation for every single believer since the very very beginning

• Paragraph 1269 continues, “Just as Baptism is the source of responsibilities and duties, the baptized person also enjoys rights within the Church: to receive the sacraments, to be nourished by the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church.”

• We are going to hear this later on about the Sacrament of Confession

• Priests are OBLIGED to hear ANYONE’S Confession

• It can’t be an unreasonable request

• BUT…

• The Church says the priests are OBLIGED to hear someone’s Confession ANY TIME THEY ASK within reason

• Why?

• Because one of the rights of being Catholic is to receive the Sacraments

• All of these things are massively important

• Paragraph 1270 says, “‘Reborn as sons of God, [the baptized] must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church’ and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God.’”

• When was the last time you have professed before others the faith you have received from God through the Church? 🤔 🤔

• Have there been any times in conversation where you normally would say something about believing in Jesus Christ and His Church but you held something back?

• If you are part of the Church…

• If you have been made new by Baptism…

• If you have been given the grace of the Holy Spirit…

• If you are now an adopted son or daughter of God…

• Then you MUST PROFESS BEFORE MEN the faith you have received from God through the Church

• AND…

• Participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God

• We can look at our world and wonder what happened when it comes to a loss of faith and morals and belief in God?

• Not just about what the leaders have done wrong although that is important

• The only level you can influence directly is YOUR OWN LEVEL

• Have you professed before others the faith you have received?

• Have you participated in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God?

• What have you done?

• If you have abdicated…

• If you have said that it’s just a professional’s job…

• Then you are part of the problem…

• Sometimes the statement is accurate

• If you haven’t done anything, then you are part of the problem

• This isn’t about condemning you

• You have been given a DIGNITY

• Paragraph 1271 says, “Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church: ‘For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church. Justified by faith in Baptism, [they] are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers [and sisters] by the children of the Catholic Church.’ ‘Baptism therefore constitutes the sacramental bond of unity existing among all who through it are reborn.’”

• THEY ARE FULLY CHRISTIAN

• People ask what if someone is baptized but not baptized Catholic? Do we accept that Baptism?

• YES!! 

• They are not re-baptized after that

• That is a REAL BAPTISM

• It is really effective

• It really changed them into God’s sons and daughters

• We are TRULY brothers and sisters even if we have an imperfect relationship with each other

• AN INDELIBLE SPIRITUAL MARK…

• Once you are Baptized, you are Baptized FOREVER

• You belong to Christ FOREVER

• No sin can erase this mark

• Even if sin does prevent a person from experiencing the fruits of salvation, there is no sin that can UNDO OUR BAPTISM

• There is no sin that can make it so the God who adopted us will abandon us

• NO SIN CAN EVER DO THAT!!

• BUT…

• We can CHOOSE not to live in the Father’s House

• Remember the Parable of the Prodigal Son?

• The older son leaves but comes back

• BUT…

• He did not HAVE to come back

• He could have died feeding the pigs

• You know the parable right?

• If he died feeding the pigs, he would have died as a son of the Father

• He would not have ceased being a son to the Father

• BUT…

• He would have died OUTSIDE THE FATHER’S HOUSE

• The same is true for US

• We will ALWAYS be sons and daughters of God our Father

• ALWAYS!!

• ALWAYS!!

• ALWAYS!!

• NO SIN CAN ERASE THAT!!

• NO AMOUNT OF SAYING WE DON’T WANT THAT ANYMORE CAN ERASE THAT!!

• IT IS AN INDELIBLE SPIRITUAL MARK!!

• At the same time, we have to CHOOSE to live inside the Father’s House

• OR…

• We choose to live OUTSIDE the Father’s House

• We have to choose to live in the Father’s WILL

• OR…

• We choose to live OUTSIDE the Father’s WILL

• There is this INDELIBLE SPIRITUAL MARK that has been placed on us if we have been Baptized

• IT IS A GIFT!!

• BUT…

• IT IS A GIFT THAT WE HAVE TO USE!!

• God says, “You belong in my family. You belong in my home. You belong in my house. It is your house too!!”

• We have to CHOOSE to live there

• That’s not always easy

• Professing our faith before others and participating in the apostolic missionary activity of the Church is not easy

• So what do we need?

• WE NEED GRACE!!

• WE NEED PRAYERS!!

• Fr. Mike is praying FOR YOU!!

• Please pray for Fr. Mike and for each other!!

• I cannot WAIT to see you tomorrow!!