Hope Springs Eternal From Baptism

Last week I had a wonderful visit with Rose Ziegler who is 91-years old and recently learned that she is terminally ill with cancer. She had never received the Anointing of the Sick, and we both thought it was about time. What a blessing it was to pray with her and Linda, one of her five children.

As the veil of death began to come into view, Rose was remarkably peaceful, grateful and loving. She reminisced with us about her life and family which includes 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-grandchildren. At the beginning of the Sacrament of the Sick she blessed herself with Holy Water and remembered her baptism 91 years ago—she’s got a terrific memory!

What difference does baptism make? It is the beginning of a life lived in hope. St. Paul writes to Titus and to us today:

“When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared… He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life” (Titus 3: 4-7).

Through “the bath of rebirth” we have “become heirs in hope of eternal life.” One of the most important teachings of Christianity is the hope of eternal life. All human beings have two things in common: we are born, and we die (unless the Lord returns in glory during our lifetime). We probably did not choose our attitude during the birthing process, but we can choose our attitude during the dying process. Rose Ziegler is choosing to have hope in eternal life; therefore, she is approaching the dying process with peace, gratitude and love.

Actually, we are all terminally ill; because of original sin we are all destined to die. But Jesus came to give us hope of eternal life. As the eternal Son of God, He came to welcome us into His relationship with the Heavenly Father. The baptism of Jesus, which we celebrate today, is not just about Jesus—it is also about us. St. Luke tells us that after Jesus “had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’” (Luke 3: 21-22). This is the same heavenly blessing which was spoken over each of us at our baptism. The heavenly Father claimed us as His own saying, “You are my beloved son or daughter; with you I am well pleased.” In and through Jesus, we have become the beloved sons and daughters of our heavenly Father; we have “become heirs in hope of eternal life” (Titus 3: 7).

So, what’s the most important way to live in hope of eternal life? We must believe the Father, believe that we are His beloved sons and daughters. And the way we come to believe this is by praying. Jesus heard His Father’s voice of affirmation while He was praying. We can do the same, in and through Jesus, with the grace of the Holy Spirit who prays within us (cf. Romans 8: 26).

We tend to focus on our weaknesses, shortcomings and sins. We tend to ponder the things which are unlovable about us. But Jesus came to turn our focus from our sins to His mercy. As we look upon the cross, we realize that our robes have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb (cf. Revelation 7: 14). And having been washed clean, the Father is “well pleased” with us.

So spend some time in prayer today contemplating the baptism of Jesus, and reclaim your own baptism. Put yourself there beside Jesus in the Jordan and listen to the voice of affirmation from heaven. You are God’s beloved son or daughter. You are an heir in hope of eternal life. Jesus came to heal your terminal illness. Therefore, like Rose Ziegler, you can choose your attitude today. Even if you are looking at the veil of death you can choose peace, gratitude and love. Because you can see through the veil with hope.