I was thinking as I read the Gospel about the difference between the baptisms of John and Jesus. John’s was a symbolic one. One would confess their sins, hoping for forgiveness, to prepare the way for Jesus. Jesus’ baptism is one of the Spirit that changes our lives in a radical way. When we are baptized, we are totally remade and yet do we see it or experience that change in our lives? When we are baptized our sins are washed clean, we are given a new life of grace, we are reborn into the family of God, we are made priest, prophet and royalty. Is this what we see around us when we look around the Church, people living life in a new, enlightened way, pursuing holiness? Do we see in the mirror the person God has sent to transform the world around it?
I admit, I often doubt when I read the Bible or the lives of the saints that I am living a similar life. If the Sacraments have the very power of God to change our lives, what am I missing? It would seem almost better to believe that nothing really happens in the Sacraments, that they are just symbolic, like John’s baptism, because I certainly don’t see the power that the saints had in my life. It often feels more like making a new year’s resolution: if you believe and engage your will and get the right motivational speaker, you can do it, but for the most part it is not going to do much. If that is how we may feel, I guess that is why parents might put off Baptism because they do not know what it does. They have not seen the changes in their lives and, perhaps, even felt hindered by it.
Let’s face it, we believe strong things about the Sacraments. In Baptism, we believe sins are washed clean and we are adopted and start a new life. In Confession, we believe sins are forgotten about by God after absolution has happened. In the Eucharist, we believe that we receive Jesus. In Matrimony, we believe that God makes an unbreakable bond between us and Him and now our marriage is a witness to God’s life giving and fruitful love in the world. In Holy Orders, the priesthood, we believe the priest becomes another Christ. In Confirmation, we believe the Spirit gives us the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit. When Anointing is done, physical and spiritual healing happens. We talk about this, it is in all of our Catechisms, yet the hard part is do we see the fruits of these supposed amazing Sacraments or are they really just symbols and not what the Church says, life saving remedy, life altering power, transformative grace?
When the Apostles received these Sacraments, they did powerful things, miracles, walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, converted nations and we now, apparently with the same Sacraments, can barely avoid gossiping or even being nice to our spouse. We can’t not fathom that the Sacraments could stop us from addiction. So what has gone on, are the Sacraments being this old now lost their power? We could honestly feel that way I believe. But the truth is they have not, they are just as powerful, saving and life changing as they were when they were first instituted by our Lord and Saviour Jesus. So what is wrong? Why are we not experiencing the power, the transformation? Why are we not seeing the fruits if they are what we profess them to be? Because we don’t know how to use them anymore.
A simply catechesis on the Sacraments is important. One aspect is that Sacraments happen when we use the right matter and form, the right words and have the power to do them. For example, some need ordination to work and the right matter such as bread or water, or a baptized man in the case of priesthood. If the right matter and form is there, we can be assured that the Sacrament happened. Jesus is the guarantee of the Sacraments, not the person who does them and even unholy people, if they have the power, can make a valid Sacrament. So we don’t have to worry if Fr Andrew is holy enough to celebrate Mass, he most certainly is not, Christ is the one who makes it happen. We just have to do what He tells us to do.
The second aspect is more of the problem of why we are not seeing fruit. Sacraments change our lives when we are open to them changing our lives. If we are not seeing fruits and transformation, it is because we are not asking for them to change us. Begging, making it a daily goal to change is essential to see the fruits of the Sacraments.
So yes, all the things that the Church believes about the Sacraments are true. They are extremely powerful and are here to change our lives, but you and I make straight the way for them by simply asking for them. Saturday morning, I was praying to renew that grace of my Baptism. I said to God, “You are here and my heart is all closed to the great things you are offering. When I was baptized, you entirely remade me. Restore that purity, that belief to trust and be open to all that you are offering. Unscale my heart and restore childlike faith so I can receive what you are asking.” After the morning Mass, I had a great sense of euphoria and really felt the presence of God. It is true that we will not always feel this way. I didn’t ask to feel that way. I asked to accept what was being offered that day. God offered euphoria, other days He offers other things. But if we don’t ask, the amazing blessings and power to transform the true desires of our soul will not be met. Ask and you will receive, knock and the door will be open. Make His way straight today by opening your heart.