Baptism Calls us to an Identity and a Mission

In light of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, January 11, Fr. Jude Xavier, Pastor at St. Margaret Mary Parish, reflects on the enduring significance of baptism.

Baptism is often remembered as a moment from our past, a day when you were baptized, water was poured, Sacramental Oil was used, and a candle was lit. Yet Baptism is not only a memory; it is a living reality. It calls us to an identity and sends us on a mission.

First, Baptism gives us our identity. When water is poured in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, something profound happens; we become children of God. We are claimed by Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit. From that moment, our deepest identity is no longer based on what we achieve, what we own, or what others think of us. Our identity is this: we belong to God. We are loved, forgiven, and chosen.

Saint Paul reminds us that in Baptism we are baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection. This means that our old life of sin no longer defines us. We rise with Christ as a new creation. Even when we struggle, fail, or feel unworthy, our Baptism remains stronger than our weakness. God does not take back His gift. But Baptism does not stop with identity; it also gives us a mission. Every baptized person shares in Christ’s threefold mission as priest, prophet, and king. As priests, we offer our daily lives, our joys, our work, and our suffering to God. As prophets, we witness to the Gospel, not only by speaking about faith, but by living it with integrity, courage, and compassion.

This mission is lived in ordinary life. In our families, workplaces, parishes, and communities, we are called to reflect Christ. A kind word, an act of forgiveness, standing up for what is right, caring for the poor, these are powerful ways of living our Baptism.

Each time we bless ourselves with holy water, we are reminded of who we are and why we are here. Baptism tells us: You are God’s beloved child, and you are sent. Our Baptism with gratitude and courage, embracing both our identity in Christ and our mission in the world.