Since it’s the feast of the nativity of John the Baptist, some thoughts on baptism seem in order. I’ll be performing my first baptisms next Sunday. Here’s a draft of my homily.

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“Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.”

Let me tell you about the Jordan River.

A few years ago, my wife and I took a tour of the Holy Land. As part of the trip, we stopped by a place on the Jordan River, a spot where tradition holds that John baptized Jesus. It’s now something of a tourist trap – you can buy water from the Jordan, and jewelry, and postcards, and rosaries. The parking lot is packed with tour buses. But, as part of the visit, you can walk down to the banks of the river and renew your own baptism.

Our group set out to do just that. After browsing the gift shop, we gathered on the banks of the river – it’s pretty narrow, the Jordan, and not very deep. At this spot it’s actually more like a creek than a river. As the priest with our group prepared to begin the prayers, my wife looked down the shore. About 100 yards away, she saw a dozen or more people wearing white robes, wading into the water, being dunked. Those were the Protestants, being baptized in the Jordan. My wife was in awe. She pointed down the river and said, “Why can’t we do that?”

We looked around and a few people shrugged and said, “Okay, why not?” So we made our way down into the water, wading up to our knees…some of us up to our hips. But before the priest could start his prayers, several people in the water cried out and pointed into the river.

The water was unexpectedly clear and clean — you could see all the way to the bottom. And what you could see was amazing. The Jordan was jam-packed with fish. Tadpoles, goldfish, fish of every size and shape, busily swimming between our legs.

The Jordan River looked like the Belt Parkway during rush hour – except everything was moving.

It was an extraordinary moment. This water was teeming with life. And I couldn’t help but wonder if the water was like that on the day that Jesus was baptized.

Mark doesn’t give us any clues about that in the reading we just heard. He tells us that when Jesus climbed out of the water, the skies opened, the Holy Spirit descended, and God spoke.

No wonder Mark didn’t mention the fish.

We don’t have the Jordan River here this day – but we do have “waters teeming with life.” In a few moments, these children will be baptized in these waters – blessed with new life. These babies will become new creations – officially, members of the Body of Christ.

And everyone here will have a stake in what follows.

We gather as a community to celebrate this, because we as a community will play a role in bringing these children up in the faith we proclaim. Baptism is not a solitary act – as we just heard, on the day of His baptism, even Jesus had company. It is an event that demands involvement.

I don’t know if it takes a village to raise a child. But it takes a family of faith to raise a Catholic.

Godparents will be the first witnesses to this baby’s upbringing. You are the custodians of the faith. Keep your eyes, and ears, and hearts open. Is your godchild being taught to pray? Is your godchild being taken to mass? Are the fundamentals of the faith that we all know and love – the sacraments, the rosary, simple devotions – are they a part of this child’s life?

Parents and grandparents are the first role models for this child – the primary teachers. But what will you be teaching?

From you, these children will learn respect. They will learn reverence and piety, patience and compassion. From you, they will learn how to get up when they fall, how to persevere when they have setbacks.

Most importantly, from you, they will learn to love.

Strive to make your home what has been called, so beautifully, the “domestic church” – where every room is a sacred space. Be aware of it, and honor it. Every day, celebrate the gift of this new life in your family. Each moment you share with this child can overflow with grace – if you let it.

You are embarking on the greatest adventure a family can know – watching a child grow. Take God with you on that adventure. The journey will be infinitely easier.

And 15 or 16 years from now, trust me: you’ll be glad you did.

We’re about to mark an important milestone on that journey. Savor it. Remember it. Take lots of pictures. Share them. And remember to tell your son or daughter about it as they grow up.

Because these waters are teeming with life.

And after this moment, your child’s life will never be the same.

Image: Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, Orlando, Florida