Next Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ – always the gospel reading for the first Sunday in the Season of Epiphany. Of all the “showings” that revealed Jesus’ Messianic identity, his baptism was among the most significant. This story's inclusion in all four gospels (though “off-screen” in John’s account…) attests to its foundational importance for the early church. Indeed, Jesus’ baptism has been seen by Christians in all generations as the font (if you will) from which our rite of baptism sprang, and it has shaped our understanding of this one ritual that all Christians have in common.
Instead of taking apart the gospel text, I will reflect this week on baptism itself, addressing some of the different ways the Church understands baptism. Today I start with the new identity we receive in baptism as we are adopted into the family of God.
Our catechism and baptismal liturgy speak of baptism as a rite of adoption. What happens when someone is adopted? They don’t lose their prior identity, but they are welcomed into a new family, not as a guest or servant, but as a son or daughter with equal rights and responsibilities as other family members. Baptism confers such a complete affirmation and status upon us that it’s the exact opposite of that old expression, “Blood is thicker than water.” The waters of baptism trump every other form of relationship, inviting us into a vast and eternal family in which the most recent addition is as valued and valuable as the eldest.
Our families of origin are wonderful and terrible and everything in between; our spiritual family is meant to be a place of healing and growth. Does it help you in your spiritual walk to know that you have been adopted into a new family, made a true brother and sister with Jesus himself? What would help you remember that at times when you feel low?
How wonderful it would be if followers of Christ went around reminding each other of our adoption as precious sons and daughters of God, treating each other as true sisters and brothers. In Christ, we are. Water is way thicker than blood!
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