Exiit qui seminat: Rite of Baptism

In the modern Rite of Baptism, there are many signs and symbols that are visible to faithful: the water, the holy oils, the baptismal garment and candle. However, there is one symbol and prayer that is so subtle that it

often goes unnoticed to everyone except the parents and godparents: The "Ephphatha" - the same command that Jesus gives in today's Gospel. The priest or deacon uses his thumb to touch the newly baptized ears and mouth saying, "May the Lord Jesus, who made the deaf to hear and the mute to speak, grant that you may soon receive his word with your ears and profess the faith with your lips, to the glory and praise of God the Father." The laying on of hands and the use of saliva were not foreign concepts to the Jews of Jesus' day. They were symbols of physical healing. However, Christ "baptizes" them (pardon the pun) and transforms those signs to much more than the healing of the body. Our Lord uses them for the healing of the soul. "In the miracle of the deaf and dumb man we can see a symbol of the way God acts on souls: for us to believe, God must first open our heart so we can listen to his word. Then, like the Apostles, we too can proclaim the magnalia Dei, the mighty

works of God (cf. Acts 2:11)" (The Navarre Bible: St. Mark pg. 119). That's what Baptism does. Through water and the Holy Spirit, God removes the stain of Original Sin, gives us the gift of faith and makes us members of His Body, the Church. Our response is to not only give thanks for what the Lord has done, but, more importantly, to profess and proclaim our faith and the glory of God. So as we celebrate Mass together this Sunday, let us be reminded of our own baptism and ask the Lord to give us the strength to proclaim our faith always!

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Fr. Rob Sinatra