Why We Celebrate the Baptism of the Lord

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. 

One kid’s perspective

When Rosie was very little, I once asked her,  “Rosie, since Jesus was God and God is all good, why did Jesus want to be baptized?”

And without missing a beat she replied, “Because He wanted to show us it was safe!”

She wasn’t wrong. 

The reason for the baptism

One of the reasons Christ came to us in the incarnation was to show us how to live. For a Christian, one of the most essential parts of living a Christian life is being Baptised. 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that Christ’s baptism was the inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering servant. 

And so it is for each Christian at Baptism. Certainly, life is full of its share of suffering, but through Baptism, we are released from original sin and we start sharing in the life of Christ. 

As parents and grandparents, once our children are baptized it is on us to teach them about God and what it means to be a Christian and live a Christian Life. 

Things to do:

• Today would be a good day to look at each other’s Baptismal certificates.
• Look at pictures from Baptism days and share memories of that day. 
• White cupcakes or cake would be a nice touch for dinner today. 
• Watch this excerpt from Jesus of Nazareth. 
• Write, text, or call our godparents to thank them for their prayers, or pray for the soul of your godparents if they have already passed on.