Baptism - a sacrament?
Baptism of the Lord
Cobh
11 January 2026
My friends,
One of the notable features of the celebration of Easter in France in 2025 was the number of people who were received into the Church – over 10,000 people, adults – after preparation were baptised, confirmed and received communion. It is rightly taken as a sign of new beginning in the Church in France.
Over the years here in the Cathedral, you have witnessed a smaller number who have been accompanied through the R.C.I.A process i.e. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. We have welcomed them to share with us the grace of Baptism into Christ. Their saying ‘Yes’ to Baptism into Christ, as adults, reminds us that Baptism is an adult choice – either by the individual or the parents who request Baptism. Through their preparation for the sacrament, they understand that Baptism is not magic – the grace of the sacrament is indeed great, but it needs our efforts to be fruitful in life.
‘Round this time two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Jordan and the site by the river where Jesus was baptised. By any standards today it is a bleak space and when there, we were drawn to the account in today’s gospel. John, we note, was reluctant to baptise Jesus but he did so when Jesus suggested,
“Leave it like this for the time being;
It is fitting that we should, in this way,
Do all that righteousness demands.”
To do all that righteousness demands – is to fulfil the wish/will of God’s plan.
That plan has been unfolding even in the words of Isaiah (1st Reading)
“Here is my servant whom I uphold
my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit
that he may bring true justice to the nations.”
Isaiah 42:1-2
We sense the echo of these divine words of approval at the Baptism of Jesus.
“This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.”
In time, Peter would be the chosen one among the Apostles and we are given an outstanding declaration in the course of his preaching.
“The truth I’ve now come to realise is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right, is acceptable to him.”
(Acts 10:34-35)
This is truly good news for those who have ears to hear – God has no favourites! It makes one wonder why so many feel unable or unwilling to accept the outstretched hand of the God who has called them into life. That outstretched hand of consolation, friendship and solidarity takes many forms. Our failure often is to fail to extend it ourselves or recognise it when extended to us.
Right now, we are going through a valley of darkness, a time when fear and terror take hold because it is hard to know when the enemy will strike and what form of evil will strike. That reality should alert us to take to heart the call of the Baptised – in the words of Isaiah,
“I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right. I have taken you by the hand and formed you. I have appointed you covenant of the peoples and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.”
(Isaiah 42:6-7)
This sense of our personal call in Baptism providentially, is precisely the theme and subject of the Synodal Pathway in Ireland at this time. BAPTISED AND SENT – that with our baptism into Christ comes the call of mission. Good news is meant to be shared and lived.
The challenge of the Church in Ireland at this moment of our history is to deepen our roots in faith, so that it gives guidance and direction to how we live.
