Living Our Baptism: Part V: Practical Helps
Fr. Donald Macdonald, SMM
I still remember much of the atmosphere ln Manila during the Holy Father’s visit to the Philippines feeling not only at formal gatherings, but in everyday life. Young people from many countries were there, and numbers of them were keen to exchange ‘friendship bands’, bracelets to be worn as a souvenir of something really shared. The friendships were felt as real though fleeting and so well worth remembering.
BINDING CHAINS
From a similar motive, Fr. de Montfort encouraged the wearing of little chains. As people baptized into Christ, we ought to be so marked by that relationship that instinctively we live by offering ourselves to God, “. . . as a living sacrifice . . . trans-minds” (Rom. 12:1-2). The change in outlook should be root and branch, since the relationship in God in Christ through the Spirit runs so deep.
The friendship bands are not necessary, but they can recall the friendship and delight in so much that was shared. Similarly for the little chains: “. . . these external tokens are not essential and may well be dispensed with . . . (but) I cannot help but give the warmest approval to those who wear them . . . (as) they show they . . . have willingly taken upon themselves the glorious slavery of Jesus Christ” (TD 236).
Fr. de Montfort offered three reasons for wearing these chains:”. . . they remind a Christian of the promises of baptism and the perfect renewal of these commitments made in consecration” (advocate by Montfort to Jesus living in Mary) “. . . these chains prove that they are not ashamed of being the servants and slaves of Jesus . . . and they are a guarantee and protection against enslavement by sin and the devil” (TD 238).
They are meant, therefore, to jog the memory of what is, in view of our baptism. As we are loved, treasured and indwelt by God in Christ through the Spirit, it is our privilege to live in that light and to respond to what we see there by the way we live. They also remind us of much in ourselves and in our environment which would break the links between God and ourselves.
SLAVE OF CHRIST JESUS
Some of us may be put off by the strong imagery of ‘slavery’ running through Montfort’s reasoning, but really there is strong biblical precedent for it, especially in St. Paul. He formally introduces himself and expresses his identity in the opening words of his Letter to Rome: “Paul, slave of Christ Jesus . . .”. This is who he is, bound hand and heart to his Lord, from whom he takes his identity. Later in chapter six of the same Letter, he uses the imagery of ‘slavery’ to speak of baptism and its meaning.
The perspective of the baptized person should radically revitalize their outlook on life. We should consider ourselves as, “. . . alive to God in Christ Jesus . . . walk in newness of life . . as those brought from death to life . . .”. A moment’s reflection on what that attempts to describe, could lead to a lifetime of wonder at what we are given. So many, in practice, scarcely give it a thought. The little chains might encourage us to do that.
The Baptism of Christ: Italian painter: Paris Paschalinus Bordone: 1535-1540
The painting resides at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
This is the fifth of six articles on Living Our Baptism. The first article in this series may be found using this link.
As we are loved, treasured and indwelt by God in Christ through the Spirit, it is our privilege to live in that light and to respond to what we see there by the way we live.
SLAVES TO SIN
Experience proves that the links to our unregenerate selves are, regrettably, strong. Paul speaks of this as slavery: do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey.” If sin and evil attract us it “leads to death,” as we see in the grip that abuse, addiction and wrong-doing can have on us. We can become enslaved to the contemporary, much of it far from gospel-based. But, says St. Paul, baptism should make a difference: “. . . having once been slaves of sin . . . slaves of impurity and to greater and greater iniquity . . . now present your members as slaves of righteousness for sanctification.”
The imagery of slavery may not be liked, but it is true by any objective view of much contemporary behavior: “when you were slaves of sin . . what advantage did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death.” The recovering alcoholic and other slaves to the various forms of harmful addiction, will well understand that. Bluntly put, “sin pays death for wages,” both here and here-after. The practical eye of Fr. de Montfort, with reason, sees that, “. . . these little chains are a wonderful aid in recalling the bonds of sin and the slavery of the devil from which baptism has freed (us)” (TD 238).
HEARTFELT OBEDIENCE
What a different perspective baptism offers: “thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and . . . have become slates of righteousness.” ‘Heartfelt obedience’ to God makes such a difference: “the end is eternal life . . . the free gift of God ln Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The word here for obedience is Hupakouw, which is from a word, Akouw, which means ‘listen.’ Obedience is, therefore, intensive listening. It is a superbly rich concept, far from obedience as a limiting response to external, imperfectly assimilated ‘do’s and don’ts’. It is the response of being truly a ‘living sacrifice,’ given utterly to God giving himself in Christ. In so far as that maturity is ours, the vocabulary to express it scarcely matters. We know who we are and something of what is asked of us.
For St. Paul and St. Louis Marie, ‘slave of Christ Jesus’ best expresses who they are, as they respond ln heartfelt obedience to God alone. The wearing of little chains may help us to think of the ties which bind us too: “. . . present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life . . .”. If the wonder of that really registers, the response could only want to be total.
