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2nd Sunday Of Advent B

Celebrating 100 years

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Cycle B

B192: John "the Baptist" says that he baptizes with water (today's Gospel, Mark 1:1-8). How is that any different from baptisms today in our Church?

The key word to remember is "efficacy" or effect. The "symbol" (water) is the same, but the effect is markedly different. John's baptism did not produce grace, whereas the Sacrament instituted by Christ does produce grace as the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and our souls are cleansed. The Council of Trent went so far as to declare heretical any claim that John's baptism had the same effect as the baptism of Christ.

The Church uses the word "baptism" to signify the sacramental cleansing of the soul at the same time that the water is poured over the person being baptized. John's baptism, on the other hand, was not a Sacrament but more like a sacramental, a sign preparing the way for the baptism of Christ. Even John himself said that only Christ would baptize people "in the Holy Spirit." Those who received John's baptism had to later receive Christian baptism (Acts 19:3-5). St. Thomas Aquinas adds that another way John's baptism prepared the way for grace was "by penance, preparing men to receive the effect of Christ's baptism" (Summa Theol., 3,q.38, a.3).

For this reason, Christians present their children for baptism as soon as possible after their birth. Why delay such a precious gift to a child, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? This Sacrament is not to be taken lightly, since it is necessary for salvation (John 3:5)! Because of the eternal consequences of baptism, every Easter we renew our baptismal promises (to renounce sin, avoid sin, and avoid the occasions of sin) - thereby acknowledging again our tendencies to sin, but repenting and starting anew.

Know Your Catechism! The flowering of baptismal grace takes place in personal growth, therefore it is a serious responsibility to pursue our knowledge of the Church's teachings (CCC #1230). Remember that salvation is sheer gift from God, and we see that grace manifested clearly in infant baptism (CCC #1250). Baptism is the Sacrament of Faith, and must be nurtured by parents in their children, as well as in their own lives (CCC #1251-53).

He gathers the lambs

On August 24, 1981, twelve children from Saranac Lake, led by two adults, began to descend from the crest of wooded Ampersand Mountain, which they had just climbed. Ten year-old Kathryn Dekkers, the last in line, stopped for a minute to tie her shoestrings. When she tried to catch up with the strung-out party she unfortunately took the wrong turn of the trail. In moments she was lost in the depths of the great Adirondack forest.

As soon as the leaders noticed that she was not with them, they wisely completed the trip and reported her missing. Everybody was deeply concerned. The last time a hiker had gone astray in that area in 1896, he had never been found.

Kathryn's father and brothers quickly assembled a searching party of 200 to comb the woods. They fanned out from the trail and kept looking for three days. Finally, thanks to a hunch of one of the hunters in the posse they discovered the little wanderer. Kate was hungry and a little scratched-up but otherwise sound in body and mind. In fact, her only real fear was facing her mother. She had lost her socks and was afraid of a big scolding.

Now somebody might ask (say a robot): Why should 200 people take three days off and go traipsing through the woods in search of one small child only ten years of age?

Anybody with a heart could answer. All the living things of earth that God has created are precious. Most precious among his creatures is the human being, no matter how small. He made us lovingly in his own image and likeness. He made sparrows, too; but we are worth more to him and to our fellowmen than many sparrows.

"... Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care." (Isaiah, 40: 10-11. Today's first reading).

-Father Robert F. McNamara

Q. 348: Today the reading from St. Paul is talking about radical cosmic violence on the “day of the Lord” (2 Pt 3:8-14). Is he deliberately trying to scare us?

Permit me to draw an analogy. We “aficionados” of crab meat – both as cooks and as consumers – are aware that growing crabs “molt” every so often as they grow. This means that they shed their outer shell, which does not grow, to make room for a new shell more conducive to housing their growing body. And they need lots of “moisture” to avoid death and to make the process less painful. This “self-shedding of the old” is doing “radical violence” to what we call the crab’s body. But it is absolutely necessary in order to avoid death from suffocation in his “old” lifestyle.

Now take that analogy to the spiritual level. St. Paul is saying (in effect) that we, too, must make “every effort to be found without stain or defilement” when the Lord comes again. Notice that it calls for effort on our part; we don’t just waltz our way into heaven – it takes work, albeit joyful work. We need to shed our old “shells” of selfishness and pride, as well as our disobedience to the teachings of the Church Magisterium in matters of faith and morals (such disobedience is also sinful and stubborn pride, is it not?).

St. Paul is warning us not to be caught wrapped in a useless shell of cultural conformity that prevents spiritual growth. Continued spiritual growth is an absolutely essential part of our preparation for eternity; it is our way of “preparing the way of the Lord” who will come again at a time unknown to us, without warning. We need the “moisture” of prayer, humility and trustful obedience to the Magisterium to avoid eternal death.

KNOW YOUR CATECHISM! Our loving Father in heaven does not desire that anyone perish from obstinate sin (CCC #2822). The Church intercedes and implores God’s mercy daily (CCC #1037). The King is going to return, and we pray to hasten his return: “Come, Lord Jesus” (CCC #671). Until then, especially during this Advent season, we continue to be reconciled with God and with the Church through the Sacrament of Penance (CCC #980).


Page last modified on October 16, 2007, at 02:29 PM