We live in the midst of a world that enjoys receiving everything quickly. We hate to wait for anything even if it will only require a few minutes of our time. At the same time it seems that we also live in the midst of a throw away culture. It is so easy to throw something away, even if it still has value. We easily move on from one item to the next replacing it with the next big thing which has been assured to change our life.
Today we are filled with great joy as we celebrate the baptism of these catechumens and the reception into the church of these candidates. The RCIA process takes time, but this investment of your time is most important because it has helped to prepare each of you for this most wondrous of days. At the length time that this process takes, some sadly lose interest, and they disappear. Hopefully, each of you has finally found that pearl of great price. We are told from the Gospels that when you find the pearl of great price you will sell everything that you have in order to obtain it.
This most odd of years has thrown us many curveballs. As we know this celebration should of taken place all the way back on the night of April 11th when we celebrated the Easter Vigil. Instead of celebrating the Easter Vigil with all of you in such a manner it was done in private. With that each of you were forced to wait even longer for this most precious of days.
Hopefully each of you see the importance of what you are about to enter into. You have had to work at this day and now that you have finally arrived at this day you will need to continue to invest yourself in this life of faith. Sadly, some enter into these sacraments and allow themself to regress to their old way of life. As the Gospels remind we cannot set out hands upon the plow in order to look back.
So today we celebrate the sacraments of initiation. Baptism which will cleanse the receiver from the stain of original sin. Confirmation which is to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Most Holy Eucharist which is to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ our Lord. Even though not received here, do not allow yourself to forget about the Sacrament of Confession. It is impossible for us to follow after the Lord if we want nothing to do with His mercy.
What is celebrated here will truly stand the test of time. Nothing that you receive is to be taken lightly. Nothing that you receive fades with the test of time. Nothing that you receive is to be thrown away as if it is to be found without use. Do not allow the devil to deceive you otherwise. Here you receive all that you will ever need to live out a good and holy life. Nevertheless, the cross will still come your way. Embrace the cross always. As our Blessed Lord says, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Each of you have received this invitation and you have chosen to answer it by being present today. Do not allow the flame of faith to be extinguished, but continue to tend to it each day. Today each of us rejoice with you in this time of great joy. Continue to invest yourself in Christ Jesus and the Church that He has left to us on this earth.
