Baptism of the Lord, A January 12, 2020
Fr. Albert St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette
What does it take to get to heaven? Depending on who you ask about it, you’ll get a wide variety of answers. So many people today assume that basically everyone, including themselves, will get to heaven. Some are afraid that almost no one makes it, including themselves. Many Christians say that all it takes is accepting Jesus into your heart. Others will say it’s just a matter of being baptized and maybe going to confession close to the end. Some people will tell you it’s all God’s grace and you don’t need to do anything, but others, by their actions, will say that you have to work really hard at it… that you have to earn heaven.
What’s the truth? It’s kind of big question because we’re all here for more or less that reason – to get to heaven. And today’s scripture gives us some important insights into the answer. In particular, did you catch what St. Peter said in the second reading? “that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” “In every nation.” God began his work in the world primarily with the Israelites, the Jews, but Peter is saying that God will accept people of any race or nationality. All they have to do is fear him and act uprightly.
What about other religions? Certainly we can think of examples of good people who practiced other religions, can’t we? Does this mean that it doesn’t matter which religion you follow… that as long as you “act uprightly,” you’ll get to heaven? No, it doesn’t, and scripture makes that clear in many places.
First of all, what does it mean to “fear God” and “act uprightly” anyway? It means to do what God tells us, and God tells us to worship him in a specific way. He tells us to follow his son Jesus. Secondly, if you look at the rest of Peter’s speech, he tells these people to get baptized, to officially become Catholic. He baptizes the whole household, including young children. Baptism is a necessary part of getting to heaven. Ultimately, salvation is a gift and part of the way we accept that gift is by receiving baptism.
Jesus considers baptism so important that he himself gets baptized, even though he certainly doesn’t need it. But it is right “To fulfill all righteousness,” to model for us the importance of not just believing in God, but of receiving the sacraments of salvation that he has given us. In another place, Jesus makes it very simple: “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Faith and Sacrament. As with many things in the Catholic faith, the answer is not either/or but both/and.
Look again at what God says after the baptism of Jesus. “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” Two statements. First, who Jesus is, second God’s approval. We should strive for both; To be God’s children and to please him with our lives.
When we are baptized, we become God’s children. Contrary to popular belief, unbaptized people are not God’s children in the same way. Yes, God created them and loves them. But it is only through baptism that we become adopted children of God, sons and daughters in the Son of God. And once you receive that baptism, it never goes away. It is permanently, eternally marked upon your soul that you are an adopted child of God, for better or for worse.
This is a profound gift and a crucial part of being acceptable to God, of going to heaven and eternal joy. Yet, as wonderful as baptism is, it is not magic, and it does not replace our responsibility. We must still live lives that are pleasing to God. A baptized man who becomes an unrepentant adulterer should not count on going to heaven. A baptized woman who is an unrepentant blasphemer should not count on going to heaven. Is God pleased with adultery and blasphemy?
This combination of identity and behavior are involved in every sacrament. Confession, like baptism, has a certain power all on its own. But, if you’re not actually sorry for your sins, then the priest can say “I absolve you” all day long, but it won’t help. The same goes with the Eucharist. Whether you’re ready or not, whether you believe or not, the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. If you receive it, you receive God himself. But if you are not ready, if you are unbelieving and/or unrepentant, then you are still receiving God, but you do so with disrespect, with sacrilege. Rather than helping you, receiving communion in a state of mortal sin actually hurts you more.
There are no magic shortcuts in the faith. Like the baptism that makes us Christian, every part of the Christian life is both/and. Both faith and works. Both the sacraments and a holy life.
Fortunately, our God is patient and forgiving. He calls us to perfection but has nearly infinite patience with us as we stumble and fall. Essentially, as long as our efforts are sincere, then we will get there eventually. As long as we have the humility to rely on God’s help rather than our own strength, we will be pleasing to God even when we constantly fall short. Do not be afraid that you will try and fail. Be afraid that you might stop trying.
Still, some of you are probably wondering, “what about good people who never get the chance to be baptized?” God tells us to follow his son and to receive the sacraments, but he also knows the limitations of our world. Some people, through no fault of their own, don’t have access to the Church and the sacraments. God can provide extraordinary grace in those situations, but that excuse disappears the instant someone who knows better has the chance to receive the sacraments. It’s also much harder to live a life pleasing to God if you barely know who he is. It comes back to that sincerity. If you’re really following God, you will seize the opportunity of grace that is the sacraments when you can.
What does it take to get to heaven? Fear God and act uprightly. That includes baptism and the other sacraments. It means loving God, your neighbor, and your enemy. It is both the external actions and the internal attitude. Where are you lacking? Do you assume that Sunday Mass is enough? Do you receive the sacraments sincerely? Do you try to live a life pleasing to God? Do not be anxious but renew your efforts to be sincere in your faith. Strive to fulfill all righteousness so that God can say about you too, “this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”