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by Msgr. Charles Pope
In Mark 1:8, John the Baptist says,
I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Mk
1:8).
Matthew and Luke add: and with fire.
What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit (and with fire)? In the
first place we must be careful to indicate, right from the beginning, that
Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not distinct, different, or later than our
reception of the Sacrament of Baptism. Rather it is the unfolding and deepening
experience of what the Sacrament of Baptism (and Confirmation) have effected in
us.
In a strictly theological sense, John the Baptist is distinguishing his Baptism,
which was merely a washing that signified repentance, from the Baptism of
Christ, which actually brings forgiveness and bestows the very life of God, and
all the graces of this new life to the believer. We are not merely washed of our
sins in the Sacrament of Baptism, we are made new, and the seed of God's very
own life, love and grace are sown in us, to grow. We are actually sanctified and
made new.
Some of the Fathers of the Church have this to say:
Theophylus
The baptism of John had not remissions of sins, but only brought men to
penitence. He preached therefore the baptism of repentance, that is, he preached
that to which the baptism of penitence led, namely, remission of sins, that they
who in penitence received Christ, might receive Him to the remission of their
sins.
Jerome
For what is the difference between water and the Holy Ghost, who was borne over
the face of the waters? Water is the ministry of man; but the Spirit is
ministered by God.
Bede
Now we are baptized by the Lord in the Holy Ghost, not only when in the day of
our baptism, we are washed in the fount of life, to the remission of our sins,
but also daily by the grace of the same Spirit we are inflamed, to do those
things which please God
According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into
communion with Christ's death, is buried with him, and rises with him: Do you
not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk
in newness of life. (Rom 6:3-4) The baptized have "put on Christ." (Gal 3:27)
Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies, and
sanctifies (1 Cor 6:11). Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the
"imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect. (CCC
1227-1228)
This quote from the Catechism then moves us beyond the merely Theological answer
to the question, "What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?" and
opens also, the "experiential" question: What is it "like" to be baptized with
the Holy Spirit?
Experientially, It means knowing what we have received in Baptism and
Confirmation. But here, "knowing" does not mean mere intellectual knowing (οἴδα
– odia in the Greek New Testament). Rather it means experiential knowing (γινώσκo
– ginosko in the Greek New Testament). It is one thing to "know about" God and
to be able to pass a religion test. But to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit is
to "know" the Lord, personally, deeply, intimately. It is to be in a life
changing, transformative relationship with the Lord. It is experiential faith.
Too many people are satisfied with with living their faith by inference, rather
than by experience. In other words, they are content to go along saying what
they heard some one else say. "Jesus is Lord and risen from the dead" because my
mother says so, or my preacher says so, (or even), the Bible says so. All of
this is fine, for faith first comes by hearing. But there comes a point when YOU
have to say so, because you personally know it to be true.
And this is what it means to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit and with fire. It
is to be able to say, "In the laboratory of my own life I have tested the Word
of God and found it to be true. I have personally met and know the Lord, I know
Him for myself."
In other words, it is having faith come alive! Faith that is real, tested and
certain. It is knowledge that is personal. It is to be a first hand witness to
the power of Jesus Christ to change my life, for I am experiencing it in the
laboratory of my very own life. He is changing and transforming me. I am seeing
sins put to death and wonderful graces come alive. I am more serene, confident,
loving, generous and chaste. I am more forgiving, patient, trusting and patient.
I love the poor more, and I am less attached to this world. My prayer is
becoming deeper as I sense his presence and power in my life. Yes, God is
working in my life and He is real. This is my testimony. What is yours?
But this is what it means, experientially, to be baptized with the Holy Spirit
(and with fire).
And this is also at the heart of evangelization. How are you going to convert
anybody if you're not convinced yourself? Parents, you want your kids to go to
Church? Great, and proper. But why do you go? Because it's Church law? Alright,
fine, but shouldn't there be a deeper reason? To be Baptized with the Holy
Spirit is to go to Mass and make the Christian walk because you know and love
Jesus Christ yourself, and you want to bring your children into that living,
powerful and life transforming experience of the Lord in prayer, the Mass, the
Liturgy, and the Sacraments. That's what you're after. And that's what it means
to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Pay attention to these word of St. John the Baptist. He, through the Holy
Spirit, is teaching us about the "normal Christian life," which is to be alive,
joyful, confident, serene and thrilled at what God is doing in my life, at to
know (not just know about) the Lord. "I baptize you with water, BUT HE, will
baptize you with the Holy Spirit" And he will light a fire in your life, a fire
that never dies away, but that grows in intensity as it transforms your very
self.
Let he who has ears to hear, heed what the Spirit is saying. Baptism is not a
tedious ritual, it is a transformative reality.
Source: Archdiocese of Washington Blog
See Also:
Sermons, Bible Commentaries and Bible Analyses for Denaha (the Baptism of Jesus Christ)
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