The true work of Baptism
“Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased. . .” (Isaiah 42:1)
I think more than anything, this reading should be a constant reminder for us to reflect on how we are carrying out our baptismal promises. If we don’t feel like we are doing enough, then we can start doing a few things differently. Just think - even if we all just did one or two small things to better carry out these promises - we would be furthering the work of justice in the world.
God has “grasped (you) by the hand” and is asking how are you fulfilling your baptismal promises?
Author: Maureen Miramontes, Learning Specialist; Admissions Officer
my chosen one with whom I am pleased. . .” (Isaiah 42:1)
Today’s first reading is reminds us of all the things the Lord calls us to through our Baptism. The first couple times I read through this reading, I felt the beauty of what the Lord was asking... but the more I read through it, I began to feel a little challenged and had to question whether or not I am fulfilling those promises in my daily life.
These first two lines of the passage remind me that I am God’s chosen one. The lines that follow remind me that he has also chosen me to “bring forth justice to the nations” and one “called . . . for the victory of justice" and one called “to open the eyes of the blind.” God has invited me to do so much through the call of my Baptism - how can I live up to those expectations? Am I really doing enough? And is what I am doing pleasing to God?
As I continued to reflect on the passage, I also found that God is asking us to carry out our baptismal promises while “Not crying out, not shouting, not making (our) voice heard in the street" just like Jesus who did not come out guns blazing, shouting from rooftops, yelling at sinners for their wrongdoing. Instead, we are to, like Jesus, simply speak to people and share our faith by example. The Lord traveled from city to city quietly performing miracles, never wanting to draw attention to Himself. In a similar way, I am called to act with humility.
Now that seems a little more of my style. I have never been a guns blazing type of person - more someone who wants to live out my baptismal promises in a quiet manner - in the day to day experiences with my family, my friends, and with people I don’t even know. Though I won’t be literally opening the eyes of the blind, I can help my kids understand their faith. I can smile at a stranger. I can volunteer my time in a food pantry. I can host an exchange student and make them feel welcome in our family. I can help an overwhelmed student. I can ease the worries of parents. Perhaps these are the commonplace miracles I am called to perform - ones that I hope and pray are pleasing to God.
As I continued to reflect on the passage, I also found that God is asking us to carry out our baptismal promises while “Not crying out, not shouting, not making (our) voice heard in the street" just like Jesus who did not come out guns blazing, shouting from rooftops, yelling at sinners for their wrongdoing. Instead, we are to, like Jesus, simply speak to people and share our faith by example. The Lord traveled from city to city quietly performing miracles, never wanting to draw attention to Himself. In a similar way, I am called to act with humility.
Now that seems a little more of my style. I have never been a guns blazing type of person - more someone who wants to live out my baptismal promises in a quiet manner - in the day to day experiences with my family, my friends, and with people I don’t even know. Though I won’t be literally opening the eyes of the blind, I can help my kids understand their faith. I can smile at a stranger. I can volunteer my time in a food pantry. I can host an exchange student and make them feel welcome in our family. I can help an overwhelmed student. I can ease the worries of parents. Perhaps these are the commonplace miracles I am called to perform - ones that I hope and pray are pleasing to God.I think more than anything, this reading should be a constant reminder for us to reflect on how we are carrying out our baptismal promises. If we don’t feel like we are doing enough, then we can start doing a few things differently. Just think - even if we all just did one or two small things to better carry out these promises - we would be furthering the work of justice in the world.
God has “grasped (you) by the hand” and is asking how are you fulfilling your baptismal promises?
Author: Maureen Miramontes, Learning Specialist; Admissions Officer
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