Pope baptizes 20 children: Now they have the meaning of life
Continuing a tradition begun in 1981 by Pope John Paul II,
Pope Leo presided over the baptism of 20 children of Vatican employees in the
Sistine Chapel.
By Kielce Gussie
Carrying on a 45-year-old tradition, Pope Leo XIV baptized
20 children of Vatican employees in the Sistine Chapel. Following in the
footsteps of his predecessors, the administration of the Sacrament took place
during a Mass on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
A new sign of forgiveness
In his homily, the Pope reflected on God entering history by
coming down to earth to “meet each of us with an open and humble heart.” He
wants to meet our gaze and reveal the Word of salvation to us, that is Jesus
Christ.
By taking on human flesh, the Holy Father argued, “the Son
of God offers to all a surprising possibility, inaugurating a new and
unexpected time, even for the prophets.” John the Baptist recognizes this
immediately and asks: “I need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?”
In this way, Jesus puts Himself in a place we would not
imagine: “He is the Holy One among sinners, who desires to dwell among us
without keeping distance, indeed, assuming fully all that is human.”
Pope in the Sistine
Chapel for Mass on the Baptism of the Lord (@Vatican Media)
Jesus explained He is to be baptized by John to “fulfill all
righteousness”. But Pope Leo begs the question: what is righteousness? We are
made righteous through Christ who is baptized in the Jordan, making a “new sign
of death and resurrection, of forgiveness and communion.”
“With God, life finds salvation”
This sacrament is the same sign these 20 children received
because, as the Pope explained, “God loves them, they become Christians, our
brothers and sisters.” Through their baptism, these children are made new.
“Just as they received life from you, their parents, so now
they receive the meaning with which to live it: faith”, the Holy Father noted.
He further stressed that when we know something is essential, we seek to give
it to the people we love. For example, clothes and food for children.
Yet, even greater than food or clothes—which are necessary
for life—faith is even more essential. “For with God, life finds salvation”,
Pope Leo said, and God’s love for his children is made visible and tangible
through parents, who ask for faith for their children.
The Pope baptizes one
of the children in the Sistine Chapel (@Vatican Media)
In the future, he highlighted, the day will come when the
children “will be heavy to hold in your arms; and the day will also come
when they will be the ones to support you.” At this time, the Pope encouraged
the families, offering his prayers that the Baptism that unites us will give
families strength and perseverance.
The sacramental gestures of Baptism are a testament to this.
The holy water symbolizes being washed in the Spirit and purified of sin; the
white clothing is the new garment God gives us in Heaven; and the lit candle
comes from the Easter candle and is the light of the risen Lord.
Pope Leo concluded, praying that they will continue on “this
journey with joy throughout the year ahead and for all your life, confident
that the Lord will always accompany your steps.”
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét