The sacraments are important, but they are not magic as some might incorrectly think or treat them as. This goes for all of them including baptism, confession, and the Most Holy Eucharist.
When one has water poured over their head while the Trinitarian formula is stated does not mean that an individual will be saved forever. Through baptism we are incorporated into the life of the Church and are brought into relationship with Christ. Baptism is important for the Christian for it leaves an indelible mark upon the receiver, but we must also live a life of faith.
Saint Paul makes it clear in his Epistle, “All we who are baptized in Christ Jesus are baptized in His death.” Thus as Christians we cannot live a life under the crux that we have been baptized and thus have nothing that we have to live for now.
The life that we choose to live should be chosen in accordance with the faith that we have entered into through our baptism. As Christians we cannot just sit idly by and live as those who are consumed with the ways of this world. Rather, we must live as one who has entered into the death of Christ thus being liberated from sin and death.
The sacrament of confession would forgive nothing if we do not first posses a contrite heart. In other words we don’t go to confession in order that we may continue to live a life of sin, but in order that we may be forgiven of that sin we have freely chosen to enter into.
Our gospel makes illusion to the Eucharist which serves as the Heavenly food that fills us both bodily and more importantly spiritually. In order to approach Christ present with us in the Eucharist we must be living in that proper state where we can receive Him.
The Baltimore Catechism defines a sacrament as “an outward sign instituted by Christ that bestows grace.” Grace is a gift which comes to us from God. Grace is not limited to the sacraments alone for these are only one way in which we receive the gift of grace.
Despite the sacraments not being magic what we are being given is all that we will ever need in order to live good and holy lives. Grace goes unseen by our eyes, but is still at work within us. Let us choose to cooperate with such grace ordering our life towards Christ and what was begun for us at that moment when we entered into those life giving waters of baptism.
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