Baptism of the Lord
By: Fr. Pat Heppe
On April 22nd, many years ago, there was a Baptism in a small church in Washington County. It seemed like an ordinary day for a Baptism but it wasn’t. As the water was poured over the head of this infant boy, the sky opened and a voice from heaven could be heard, “This is my beloved, with you I am well pleased.” Not all heard the voice but many knew it happened. Of course this is Mark’s gospel for this Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord. This happened when I was Baptized at St. Peter’s in Slinger. It also happened when you were baptized. It occurs when we’re baptized but of course few hear that voice that came through as loud and clear as it did when Jesus was Baptized in the waters of the Jordan River; but it sill happens.
Baptism joins us into the family of Jesus where we are loved in a special way by God who is our Father. We are loved, and are asked to share that love as a Disciple of Jesus. We show and share that love uniquely each day. I’m humbled that God called me to share his love as a priest and today as a priest of the Catholic Community of Waukesha. This is how I’m called to live out my Baptism. Baptismal Discipleship happens to each of us every day in many distinct ways. It is real! It is lived out in conversations, acts of kindness, daily prayer and in numerous other events.
As a priest, I don’t think Baptism has ever meant as much to me until I started to celebrate funerals. Sound strange, right? It is true We ask at a funeral, in so many words, what this “death” is all about. We can’t answer that question until we ask what this “life” was all about. The answer goes right to the moment of Baptism. We are called to live as disciples of Jesus, doing what he did and sharing the message in words and actions. At the funeral we use the Baptismal symbols of Holy Water, the Easter Candle, the white garment that reminds us of what happened so many years prior How did we do in living baptism? in dialogue with the priest presider of the funeral mass, most families talk freely of those beautiful “Baptismal” qualities that were present in the deceased person’s life we celebrate. Of course, we all make mistakes and not every action is perfect.
Most everyone has numerous qualities that point to living out a person’s baptism. Those present hope to imitate those qualities by doing the same and using their own special gifts and talents to live out their Baptism. A funeral mass is a celebration of the deceased’s baptismal discipleship and a challenge for those present to continue that process in their own lives.
One of my Mom’s special unique gifts was an ability to make quality chocolate chip cookies. She made them for us when we were little kids. I took them to the seminary as a student and to staff meetings as a priest. Many knew about Mom’s cookies. After her death, we found a largely supply of chocolate chip cookie ingredients in the kitchen. My sisters made hundreds of cookies for those attending the funeral. They were sent home with cookies whose main ingredient was, in Mom’s memory, love. All were called to continue the process when they went home. Share the love in faith. (We all do that in different ways.)
This Feats of the Baptism of the Lord gives us a chance to renew our baptismal commitment once again. How am I a disciple of Jesus? How I “share the love?” How ever we do it, it must be special and good! (Especially if it’s a cookie.)
Fr. Pat Heppe