Third Sunday of Lent - Baptismal Water

A baby was baptized today, so I reflected on the living water that Jesus offered the Samaritan woman whom he met at the well.  


Although my homily was not given from a full text, these were my main thoughts:

Through this living water we die with Christ and are raised with Christ.

Through this living water we are cleansed from sin.

Through this living water we experience God’s gift of salvation through Christ, washing over us without concern for our worthiness.

The water is also a visible sign of the deeper reality of God.  St. Patrick expressed this deeper reality poetically and completely in these words: “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me; Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.” 

The deeper reality of God’s action in [name of child]’s life today makes us joyful, gives us cause to celebrate—for God’s saving grace expressed through the water of baptism will make [name of child] one of God’s saints—just as the water of baptism has made everyone of us one of God’s saints, a member of Christ’s body.  For this act of love let us give God glory, thanks and praise!