By Lisa Amman, Deputy Director of Engagement at Discerning Deacons
This week as we Celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, Jesus’ Baptism in the Jordan, I’m reminded of my dear colleague and mentor Sr. Josetta Marie Spencer, SSND. When I was a young and new ecclesial minister at my first parish, I had the fortune to work with Sr Josetta. At staff retreats, pastoral council retreats, when picking out art, or when discussing her weekend over a staff lunch, Sr Josetta would work BAPTISM into everything. At first I found it odd, then kind of entertaining and worth a chuckle, but one day I couldn’t resist any longer. I walked into her office and asked if she had time to talk with me. She welcomed me with full presence and delight, as if she didn’t have a to-do list of 17 things on her docket for the day. “Sr. Josetta,” I asked, “What is it with you and Baptism? Why do you talk about it all the time? Why do you work it into every single discussion we have as a parish staff?” I wish you all could have seen how her entire body lit up like she was born for this moment!
She taught me so much that day, starting with having me read the rite of baptism. She told me this was the sacrament of my relationship with Jesus and the Church as part of the Body of Christ. This is the day that I “put on Christ” and received “the light of Christ” and was anointed “priest, prophet, and king/royal” into the ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ. It was EVERYTHING.
She told me that Christians everywhere should regularly relate about their Baptism. We should get in the habit of asking each other: “How is your Baptism going?” When it was clear to her from my face that I was confused by this she said, “Lisa, when people ask someone how their marriage is going, they aren’t asking for the story of their wedding day, for details of the dress, the vows, the reception, the officiant’s remarks. They are asking about the sacramental relationship of marriage between the spouses and God. Similarly, if I ask how your Baptism is going, I’m not looking for a story about the day of your sacrament, how old you were, what church or priest baptized you, if you wore a specific garment, and who your godparents are. No. When I ask how is your Baptism going, I’m asking how is your relationship with God, with Jesus and with his entire family in the Body of Christ going?”
Sr. Josetta’s evangelization was effective. Though she is now in heaven, I’ve found myself in wildly different contexts asking people to share about how their Baptism is going. And since we are in the week of pondering Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River – I want to turn to you, our Discerning Deacons community – to do a little reflecting too.
Here are some questions to get you started:
- A priest relates to God – how is your Baptismal priesthood going?
- A prophet identifies where the community has turned away from God and calls people to turn back to God – how is your Baptismal prophecy going?
- A king/royal takes responsibility for governing, for trying to make things happen, is not all talk, but is about a ministry of implementation together with others – how is your Baptismal royalty going?
- Jesus says the most important rule is LOVE – to love God with all your heart, soul and being and to love your neighbor as yourself. Where is love at the center of your life? Where is God? Who is your neighbor? All of this is about your Baptism and your Baptismal identity in the Body of Christ.
Heed Sr Josetta’s example and spend some time reading the Rite of Baptism. You could make it an annual spiritual practice – a kind of accountability check-in with you and God and your faith community. Read it on the Baptism of the Lord or on the anniversary of your Baptism.
Taking ownership of your identity in Christ, begins with Baptism. We don’t earn it – it’s given to us as babies or as adult converts. It is ALL a gift from our merciful and loving savior, Jesus Christ. We can take responsibility for reflecting on how our Baptism is going and how we are deepening our reception of this gift.
Join the evangelization about our Baptism. I’m forever grateful to Sr Josetta for sharing with me her passion and wonder and knowledge about my Baptism, her Baptism, our Baptism.
Eternal rest grant unto Sr. Josetta, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.