The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
Some time ago after celebrating one of the innumerable baptisms in my life as a priest, the couple was most concerned about making sure that they could keep the baptismal candle that was given as part of the Baptismal liturgy. I said, “Of course,” and then they explained their concern. They said that ever since the birth of their first child they had the family custom of lighting the candle at dinner as they celebrated the baptismal anniversary of their child!
I must admit that as I heard this couple share this beautiful family custom, I felt more than a tad embarrassed. I could not even remember the date of my own baptism let alone celebrate that pivotal day that began my faith journey!
While the date of my ordination is hard-wired into my memory, the Sacrament that began my new covenant with the Lord and his Church, somehow slipped into oblivion.
My friends, while historically, the Lenten season marked the final weeks of preparation for adult converts as they neared the waters of baptism at the Great Vigil of Easter, somehow, Lent has taken on a more penitential aspect for contemporary Christians rather than a time of remembrance of the pivotal Sacrament that forged a new covenant with Christ and his Church.
All of Lent, in actuality, is a preparation for us to renew that commitment that we made or our godparents made for us at the time of our own baptisms. At the Easter Vigil and all the masses on Easter Sunday, replacing the Nicene Creed, is the Renewal of our Baptismal promises. We are asked, once again, to speak two small words that express our conviction and commitment in belief – Do you reject sin? Do you believe in God the Father…the Son…the Holy Spirit? The “I DO,” that we are asked to profess is a profound recommitment to that new covenant forged through the waters of baptism.
As our Lenten journey nears its completion and the Great Week of our salvation dawns, may these final days keep our eyes focused on Jesus and his victory over sin and death that we celebrate in the first Sacrament, our Baptism!