Baptism and The Resurrection

Greetings in Jesus and Mary.....

Blessed Easter to all!  Here we are going to concentrate on why Baptism during the Easter vigil. St. Paul writes to the Romans: "Do you not know that all we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? For we were buried with Him by means of baptism into death, inorder that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, we shall be so in the likeness of His resurrection also." (Rom. 6:3-6) By baptism, therefore, we are linked mysteriously with the death and the resurrection of Christ.  The selected readings from the Old Testament on the Easter Vigil show how wisely God prefigured our rebirth in Christ through baptism, and in former times they were to bring to the mind of the catechumens the glorious effects of baptism and the significance of the approaching hour of grace. Then comes the "Blessing of the Baptismal Water" with symbols of deep meaning. Clothed in their white baptismal robes, with burning candles in their hands, the newly baptized proceed  from the baptistry into the church, there to celebrate with the faithful of the congregation the Holy Sacrifice for the first time and to receive their First Holy Communion.

In holy baptism we, too, for the first time died with Christ unto sin and rose again to a new life. Today, let us never forget: dying and rising again with Christ must dominate our entire life on earth, must constantly reach greater depth and perfection. The holy season of Lent, now behind us with its penance and mortification, was nothing else than a renewed dying with Christ, to the end that we might  rise again on Easter Sunday with Him as new men, more firmly established in grace and spiritual life.

"If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life shall appear, then you too will appear with Him in glory." (Col. 3:1-4)

Every Easter here in this world with all its jubilant joy is only imperfect. Perfect and full consummation will be ours only when the eternal Easter morn begins to dawn for each and every one of us who lives for Christ alone.

May we live in joyful hope for our Easter and may we take our Baptismal promises seriously by living in God's grace until He finally calls us home.

Blessed Easter to all of you!  God bless!!

Holy Mother Mary, Mother of the Risen Lord and Mother of us all .... pray for us!

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