Blog 4: Encountering the Theology of Baptism
As I have been engaged with the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults over the past 4 years of my life, I have witnessed both the teaching of Baptism to catechumens, and the looks on their faces after having emerged from the waters of the Sacrament. Nothing can teach them the meaning of what they receive in Baptism like the Sacramental experience itself. However, preparation for this experience should be more than simple instruction like you would find in a classroom. If I were to be introducing those in the RCIA program to a theology of baptism as they prepare to be initiated, I would introduce them to imagery which conveys that baptism is a cleansing of sin and sickness, as well as a dying of old self and birth into life in Christ. Specifically, I would use the images of Noah’s Ark, of the Israelites crossing through the Red Sea, and the healing of the blind man.
To introduce those in RCIA to the importance of water, I would simply begin with asking them what they use water for. The connections that people make to water generally include life, cleaning, and healing. I would then invite them into a reflection on the story of Noah’s ark. After reading the story, I would invite the catechumens to share how water played a role in the story. The goal here is not to simply tell them that water washed away the sin of the world and allowed Noah and his family(humanity) to start anew, but rather to allow the catechumens a chance to get there on their own. Importantly, I would not relegate this story to simply being a representation of the cleansing of sin. As with much baptismal imagery, this story has many layers. For example, it also speaks to the death of one world and the birth of a new one. Following this story, we would dive into the story of the Israelites fleeing from Egypt and their crossing of the Red Sea. Reading through the story, I would invite the catechumens to once again think about the role water plays in the story. Here, the water acts quite literally as a threshold they pass through to leave a life of slavery and enter into a life of covenant with God. During this reflection, I would show images of Baptismal fonts, including the one in our own parish, and how they are at the front of the Church, inviting them to see that the waters of Baptism invite them out of an old life, into new life. I would also direct their attention to how the waters enveloped the Egyptians as they chased after the Israelites. The waters take those sins, those things that hold us in bonds, and it wipes them away. The waters cleanse us of sin, and bring us into a new life.
Shifting then, into the New Testament, we would reflect on the story of Jesus healing the blind man from the Gospel of John. Here, we see Jesus heal a blind man by making “a healing poultice with spittle and clay,” (Jensen 25) applying it to the man’s eyes, and telling him to wash it off in a specific pool known for its healing. By allowing the catechumens to reflect on this story of healing, I hope to invite them into an understanding that Baptism is a healing experience, one that cleanses our souls of sin, and heals us of the damage done by those sins as well.
At the end of our session, I would invite them all to share their thoughts on Baptism after our reflections, as well as inviting them to continue their reflection on Baptism throughout their formation. Specifically, I would encourage them to consider Baptism whenever they encounter a story of water in the Bible; what dimension of Baptism could it be speaking to? Lastly, I would tell them that they are welcome to discuss any questions they may have or any developments that pop up with myself or any of our catechists. Encouraging discussion and questions is vital to creating a living encounter with the symbols ever-present in the Church. We are there simply to create the space for the encounter, God is the true teacher through the symbols and signs given to us by His Word.
