We know that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist before he began his public ministry. John was baptizing Jewish people as a symbol of rejecting their sinful past, and allowing that sinful past to be drowned in the Baptismal water. It was a way of preparing the people to be able to receive Jesus when his time came to preach and teach; removing what stood between the people and God so that they could recognize God in Jesus when they met him. Jesus did not have any sin to repent of, but instead, allowed himself to be baptized to change what was a symbolic turning away from sin to the reality of having our sin removed. The whole Trinity was present in the moment of Jesus’ Baptism. Jesus told his disciples to follow in his example, to imitate him and to go to all the nations baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

If we look back to the celebration of the Epiphany, we were given a deeper glimpse into Baptism. The gifts that the infant Jesus was given by the Magi were a sign of his mission on earth. Gold is the gift you give to kings, incense is the gift for priests and myrrh is to prepare a body for burial. Jesus is our king, he is the Great High Priest, and he died to save us from our sins.
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When we are baptized, our sin is removed. With the Sign of the Cross and the white garment that is placed on us, we are told that we “put on Christ.” We are also given a new identity as adopted children of God, and also as people who share in Jesus’ mission. We share a common vocation to be priests, prophets and kings. We are priests in the sense that we should help other people to know God, and to pray for others. We are prophets in the sense that we should speak to people the way God speaks – with gentleness, love, sometimes correction and always with kindness. We are kings in the sense that we are God’s children, and God is the King of Kings. We will inherit everything God has when we enter heaven.

What our Baptism will mean for us throughout our lives changes as we grow. For instance, how can a newly baptized baby live a priestly vocation? Just by being themselves. The beauty and love that family members experience in the birth of a new baby is a reflection of God’s love in our lives. The baby reflects God’s love just by existing. As babies grow, they will be able to choose actions that reflect God’s love – sharing with their friends, being obedient and helpful to their parents, learning good things in school, seeing what other vocations God has planned for them in their lives, and becoming good adults who makes the world better by living the way God leads them.

Faith at Home is a monthly column coordinated by the Diocese of Trenton’s Departments of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry.  For additional Faith at Home resources, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home.