It has become a tradition in our parish to baptize babies on Christmas Day. For these lucky babies, every year when people all over the world celebrate the birth of our Saviour, they will also be celebrating the joy of their new life in Christ. How meaningful it is!
Many readers may object to infantile baptism, saying that the infants are not in the position to take up such a fundamental option as to believe in a personal Saviour. Furthermore, the parents have deprived the infants of their right to choose their faith.
The first objection is right. The infants are too young to take up the option. That is why we do not baptize the infants because of their faith. Rather, we baptize them because of the faith of their parents. The parents believe in God, believe in Jesus as their Saviour. Shouldn't the infants follow the faith of their parents? Subsequently, it is also the responsibility of the parents to provide adequate religious education for their children.
The second objection is not quite right. As parents, we bring them to this world without seeking their consent. We breast-feed them or bottle-feed them without asking for their opinions. We send them to the "best" kindergartens or primary schools without ... This is not a question of the rights of the infants. Rather, it is a question of the duties of the parents. As parents, it is our duty to give the best to our children.
Many readers may object to infantile baptism, saying that the infants are not in the position to take up such a fundamental option as to believe in a personal Saviour. Furthermore, the parents have deprived the infants of their right to choose their faith.
The first objection is right. The infants are too young to take up the option. That is why we do not baptize the infants because of their faith. Rather, we baptize them because of the faith of their parents. The parents believe in God, believe in Jesus as their Saviour. Shouldn't the infants follow the faith of their parents? Subsequently, it is also the responsibility of the parents to provide adequate religious education for their children.
The second objection is not quite right. As parents, we bring them to this world without seeking their consent. We breast-feed them or bottle-feed them without asking for their opinions. We send them to the "best" kindergartens or primary schools without ... This is not a question of the rights of the infants. Rather, it is a question of the duties of the parents. As parents, it is our duty to give the best to our children.
Again, Fr. Martin officiated at the 11 a.m. mass in which some 20 infants were baptized. Many of the parents were young couples. One or two mothers were pregnant as well. The whole atmosphere was pregnant with vitality. The gospel reading was taken from the first 14 verses of John 1. It is a highly theological reflection on the part of John. I was wondering how Fr. Martin would handle it.
Perhaps taking the cues from so many young couples, Fr. Martin began by quoting the results of sociological researches on marriages. Free love was a romance. Marriages across social strata were myths. These were inventions by fiction writers. In reality, people would marry people with similar sociological background, such as income, education level and religious affiliation etc. Some psychological researches further revealed that people would choose spouses possessing similar character traits as the parent of their opposite gender. In short, many girls tend to marry men of their father-figures and boys their mother-figures.
If you are wondering what Fr. Martin was aiming at, here comes the main theme of his homily.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father (John 1:14).
In order to make His salvation more accessible to us, God takes up the challenge to become a man. In order to make Himself known to us, God becomes one of us. To build up a relationship with us, God leaves heaven to become baby Jesus. With similar socio-psychological background, we may choose him, build up a trust relationship with him and attain transformation and salvation. As Christian parents, it is our duty to make Jesus more accessible to our children.
Perhaps taking the cues from so many young couples, Fr. Martin began by quoting the results of sociological researches on marriages. Free love was a romance. Marriages across social strata were myths. These were inventions by fiction writers. In reality, people would marry people with similar sociological background, such as income, education level and religious affiliation etc. Some psychological researches further revealed that people would choose spouses possessing similar character traits as the parent of their opposite gender. In short, many girls tend to marry men of their father-figures and boys their mother-figures.
If you are wondering what Fr. Martin was aiming at, here comes the main theme of his homily.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father (John 1:14).
In order to make His salvation more accessible to us, God takes up the challenge to become a man. In order to make Himself known to us, God becomes one of us. To build up a relationship with us, God leaves heaven to become baby Jesus. With similar socio-psychological background, we may choose him, build up a trust relationship with him and attain transformation and salvation. As Christian parents, it is our duty to make Jesus more accessible to our children.
CHRISTMAS GREETING Incarnate Word of God, who
Descended from heaven so as to
Elevate us to
Greater heights.
Let us remember to
Lower ourselves a little,
Humble ourselves a bit so as to
Come closer to Jesus, our Destiny.
AMEN.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Yours in the Risen Lord
Alex Kwok
2009 Christmas
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