May, particularly early May, can be rainy. This past week God, through the clouds of the sky and the currents of weather patterns, gave us lots of rain—lots of rain several days in a row. Spring time in Chicago often gives us a lot of showers and storms and it seems that every year someone, somewhere around Chicagoland and the Midwest gets flooded. Water can be a powerful and destructive force, particularly when it comes in torrents and overpowers river banks and other barriers designed to funnel it, ultimately to the ocean or a very large lake.
The rainy Chicago springtime consistently coincides with the Easter season and the new life of baptismal water. I often quote one of the holy water blessings which simply says, “Wherever there is water, there is life.” As I write this, I am looking out my office window at very green grass, trees, bushes and flowers that have sprung to life because of the nurturing drenching of water from recent rains. Some of you can’t quite appreciate this new life because you are dealing with the effects of a flooded basement or yard. News reports were dominated recently by areas around Chicagoland that were flooded, and testimonies of residents dealing with a flow of water that was more than they expected on their homes or property.
We often appreciate water when we are thirsty, or when we take a shower or bath. Water cleanses and renews as well as gives life. In abundance, it can overwhelm us. So we need water, and often take it for granted, but we also cannot control its power. I would like to suggest that as a way of looking at Baptism itself. We need it as a ritual that welcomes or immerses us into the community of faith. We often take it for granted because it grounds us, unites us, and provides us with both a basic identity and a call at the same time. Finally, it can be unbelievably powerful as it leads us to our ultimate destination—the ocean or lake of eternal life. When we stop and think about the commissioning that we received in Baptism, a commissioning from Jesus Christ that is deepened at First Communion and affirmed in Confirmation, it can be overwhelming. If we really reflect on our continued responses to the baptismal promises, it can be challenging and even overwhelming.
DO we really renounce Satan? And ALL his works and empty promises? Do we really believe in the triune identity of God? The holy universal church? DO we really believe in forgiveness? Do we take time to reflect on these aspects of our faith?
This is the torrent of our faith that can be overwhelming sometimes, but at the same time gives us life and, in reflection, can ReNEW our baptismal call.
The element of call is prominent in all three readings this weekend. In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter says that through baptism and the Holy Spirit God made Jesus both Lord and Savior, “so… seek forgiveness and embrace…the promise made to you, your children, those far off and whomever our Lord God will call.” In the second reading from Peter, he urges us to see that patience in the midst of suffering is a grace—“to this you have been called.” In the Gospel from John we hear of Jesus, the good shepherd, who calls his sheep his own… by name… and he leads them out.
Baptism begins our journey of faith connected with the community. In Baptism we figuratively jump into the community and add to that community with our talents and skills. Simultaneously, the community both encourages us to grow, but also provides various arenas to share and develop our talents. I was made aware of this recently during the National Football League draft. Last week, professional teams drafted college players in several rounds based on players skills and team needs. Several teams, including the Bears, generated much discussion based on their draft choices. During some of this discussion, one team’s General Manager (not the Bears’) made the statement that he asks each and every member of his team, players, coaches, staff and administrative personnel to make a commitment to help each drafted player to maximize their potential. He underscores the importance of this commitment and unified effort even if personnel on the current team don’t agree that the newly drafted player is the best fit. Ideally then there is a mutual commitment—player to team, and ENTIRE team to player.
This simple imagery of the richness of water and the importance of the mutual commitment in Baptism is why we remind ourselves of the importance of Baptism throughout the entire Easter season by doing two things: 1. We sprinkle the assembly at the beginning of Mass; and 2. We ReNEW our baptismal promises.
As we journey through the Easter season toward Pentecost and beyond, let us not only ReNEW our commitment to live our Baptism, but let us make a significant commitment to our new draft picks that join us on a regular basis. Many of these are celebrated during weekend liturgies as they are welcomed into our community with the water that gives spiritual life and water that we hope overwhelms them at times in the future, leading them to life that they might never have imagined.
Please join me in congratulating the 128 young parishioners who will make their First Communion over the next couple of weeks. Thanks to all who have worked so hard to prepare them. We are in this together!!!