The Easter Sacrament

Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! By virtue of our baptism, we share in His death and resurrection, becoming in Him a new creation. From ancient times, baptism has been celebrated especially at Easter. As of this writing, there are twenty older children and adults from our parish being baptized at the Easter Vigil. What a blessing! 
     There are three principal effects of baptism. The first is that we are cleansed of all sin, both original sin (that is a consequence of the disobedience of our first parents) and any actual sin we may have committed. In baptism we receive a fresh start. But if we fall into sin, big or small, after baptism, we can still have recourse to God’s mercy in the sacrament of confession. If you’ve been away from Church for a while, or are conscious of some other serious sin in your life, come to confession and receive a fresh start. 
     The second effect of baptism is that we are adopted into God’s family: we become a beloved son or daughter of the Father in Christ Jesus. Baptism claims us for Christ, and gives us a share in His divine life. God doesn’t just want us to avoid sin, He wants us to share in His goodness, accompanying us with sanctifying grace as we live the Christian life, and especially through the worthy reception of the sacraments, of which baptism is the gateway. 
     Finally, by baptism in the Catholic Church we are incorporated into the Church and take on a set of rights and responsibilities. (Those baptized in separated ecclesial communities are also incorporated into the Church, but not completely, and are not bound by some of the rules governing the Church.) These responsibilities include the obligation to attend Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation, to fast and abstain from eating meat at certain times, to provide for the material needs of the Church as one is able, and to follow the Church’s law concerning marriage. 
     May Jesus’ Resurrection — in which we partake by virtue of our baptism — resound in our own life and the whole world. Happy Easter!