My mom was that fun-loving Catholic girl who attended parochial school, had stories about the nuns,… classic. She was likely baptized as an infant as I was. But, for most of her adult life didn’t really attend Mass. Later in life, her faith blossomed like a flower while attending church at Crossroads. She asked me one day in June 2016, “Do I have to be baptized in the church building?” Of course not,… the next weekend we stood with family surrounding in my pool and she followed Jesus’ command and example and was baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. What a moment and initiation back into her faith and the kingdom of God.
I came across a fascinating chapter in Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. In it he masterfully makes the argument for the centrality to Christianity of the resurrection of Jesus. His persuasive prose swerves into a punctuation with a strange reference to ‘baptism for the dead’. He doesn’t advocate for it, he simply says- even if I went so far as to be a proxy for someone else, it does me no good, if there isn’t a resurrection.
For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? Why are we also in danger every hour? I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily. If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Sober up morally and stop sinning, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:29-34 NASB
How did my life change when I was baptized? What assurance of salvation followed? I wonder who will be baptized this Easter Sunday at church when we do our mass baptisms?
God, as this day begins- I desire that each in my circle of family and friends would follow Jesus’ example and experience baptism and remission of sins and filling of the Holy Spirit. Continue to draw each closer and closer each day so they may know the joy of salvation and assurance of a reunion with loved ones in Christ in the life to come. As I look ahead today, I am already behind. Lol. Work in me and through me to accomplish what I can for other’s sake and Your glory.
