It is important to recall from time to time the importance of our baptism. Baptism removes spiritual blindness – if we’ve been baptized, we have received the gift of faith. Having blindness removed is one thing, using the eyes of our heart requires the willingness to see God, to see things from his perspective, and to look at reality with wisdom. Sometimes, especially at the beginning of our journey of faith, we may doubt that our Baptism actually did anything – we could have the impression that we are still blind. It is quite possible and even normal to go through periods of dryness and/or confusion. Sometimes the clarity we want is not the clarity we need. Sometimes the key to spiritual growth is not learning something new or gaining some new insight – sometimes it is simply continuing to trust God even when we can’t see that he’s doing anything or that our trust is paying off. We are always looking for results, something to measure, some kind of discernible progress. The spiritual life is not something we can measure, it is a relationship with someone who is invisible and loves us beyond measure. Friendship is like that: we don’t become friends with people in order to become better or progress in life, although that certainly can happen. Friendship deepens with the sharing of life – God would like us to share life with Him and listen to what He has to say.
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Death is swallowed up in victory.” But death is not simply eliminated. There is a constant temptation in the Christian life to believe that since we love God and pray for things to go well, that we will somehow be spared from suffering. We tend to grow accustomed to this life, the many blessings we’ve received, all the projects and work we have to do, the planning needed etc. We can forget that Baptism is a sacrament that also represents death. Jeremiah the prophet was plunged into a cistern where he was sure to die, then lifted back out again. That’s what happens with baptism: being plunged into the waters in which we were certain to drown and perish, only to be brought back out again. Jesus talks about the baptism with which he longs to be baptised – He is referring to His Passion and Death. He does not long for suffering because He somehow enjoys it though – it is the joy of eternal life that draws Him through death.