Water is a
most interesting element. It seems to penetrate all fields of study. It finds
its way into not just chemistry and biology, but is present often in history,
it even goes so far as to be a source of study of philosophy, and even ascends
into the holy science of theology. It is found in all living things. It is the
most plentiful and basic resource in the natural order, but we may say the same
of it in the spiritual order, because it is on account of water that we poor
sinners are brought to new life, through the Sacrament of Baptism.
The waters
of Baptism confer on us the grace of new life; all that water does for us in
the physical order may be applied figuratively to the spiritual order as well. Water is a symbol of grace and for this reason Jesus speaks of water when He speaks to the Samaritan woman in the Gospel (John 4:13-14). Grace must be our daily sustenance; the only difference between water and grace is that the body is limited in the amount of water healthy for it. There is no limit to the grace our souls can sustain, save those we impose on ourselves.
But let us also consider water in relation to the sick. Is it not important for the ill to continue drinking water, and often even more so, so that the body can flush out all that is harmful to it and continue its functioning? And when they recover, is not water the most basic necessity for them to drink in order to remain in their revitalized state? The same applies to grace in the spiritual order. Grace alone is what can flush sin out of the soul, and the deeper the sin is rooted in the soul, the more grace will be needed. Additionally, through the grace of God alone can a person remain out of sin once they have recovered their life in God.
In Baptism, however, the physical and the spiritual waters converge in a most mysterious way. Water is the essential matter necessary for the Sacrament, and the grace conferred by this physical water may be likened not simply to a stream, but to a flood of a river! It is no coincidence that the waters of the Red Sea, when collapsing upon the Egyptian armies, are likened to a flood (Exodus 15:5), for this event is the type of Baptism par excellence. As the water flows down over a person as they are baptized, sin is drowned in its waters, for grace flows from this water. Indeed this water, no matter how impure it may be physically, or from what profane source it may issue, has been sanctified above all the other waters upon earth by its exalted use! This water is not ordinary water, nor may it said to be even on the level of holy water at the moment of its use, but instead, in a mystical way, this water achieves a special union with Divine grace, and is therefore, a level all of its own.
This water is not simply a sacramental, but the source of a Sacrament. Let us quickly recall the difference between the two. Sacramentals work ex opere operantis - by the work of the worker - while the Sacraments work ex opere opero - by the work being worked. A sacramental depends on the disposition of the one using it to confer grace, but a Sacrament will make present its graces regardless of the disposition of the worker. Rightly may we apply the Entrance Antiphon to it, that it will be made strong and will not be moved, for nothing can stop the graces of a Sacrament from being present; only obstacles can be created to prevent one from benefiting from them.
Satan cannot help but flee, therefore, from the Sacraments; it is why he and the other demons put all of their energies into trying to prevent the Sacraments. They are powerless in face of the Sacraments, especially Baptism. The words of the canticle sung by the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea may rightly be applied to the demons when Baptism is conferred on a soul, "Thou [the Lord] didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them; they [the Egyptians] sank as lead in the mighty waters. . . . Thou didst stretch out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them (Exodus 15:10, 12)." The dominion of sin and death over a soul washed in the Sacrament of Baptism is completely and utterly destroyed!
This water does not only cleanse, though, it also confers. It gives the virtues of faith, hope, and charity to the soul. It brings him or her to new life. It enlightens and strengthens. In short, through the water of Baptism, the Trinity flows into the soul and is made present in the heart of the believer. Rightly, therefore, is Baptism called, "the water of wisdom," by the Entrance Antiphon, for the Trinity made present in the soul is a source of enlightenment of the Divine Mysteries, and thus we may become wise, "For the LORD gives wisdom (Proverbs 2:6)."
The final words of the Entrance Antiphon speak of grace raising the soul up to life for ever. The waters of Baptism give a new life to the soul, and if the soul remains free from sin, it will persevere in that life forever. Nevertheless, it is necessary to constantly return to the stream of grace for strength and cleansing, just as it is necessary to constantly return to physical water in order to maintain health of body. For this reason, again, we have renewed our Baptismal Promises, so that we may recall the life we were born into and which we want to live in.
Throughout the rest of this Octave, and throughout the entire Easter Season, and even the rest of our short earthly lives, let us then always beg the Lord to continue to flood our souls with those original graces He bestowed on us at our Baptism. May we be forever firm in His ways, and may we grow ever closer to Him, so that, when this short life is over, we may pass through death to eternal life with Him, as the waters of Baptism gave us a foretaste of.
But let us also consider water in relation to the sick. Is it not important for the ill to continue drinking water, and often even more so, so that the body can flush out all that is harmful to it and continue its functioning? And when they recover, is not water the most basic necessity for them to drink in order to remain in their revitalized state? The same applies to grace in the spiritual order. Grace alone is what can flush sin out of the soul, and the deeper the sin is rooted in the soul, the more grace will be needed. Additionally, through the grace of God alone can a person remain out of sin once they have recovered their life in God.
In Baptism, however, the physical and the spiritual waters converge in a most mysterious way. Water is the essential matter necessary for the Sacrament, and the grace conferred by this physical water may be likened not simply to a stream, but to a flood of a river! It is no coincidence that the waters of the Red Sea, when collapsing upon the Egyptian armies, are likened to a flood (Exodus 15:5), for this event is the type of Baptism par excellence. As the water flows down over a person as they are baptized, sin is drowned in its waters, for grace flows from this water. Indeed this water, no matter how impure it may be physically, or from what profane source it may issue, has been sanctified above all the other waters upon earth by its exalted use! This water is not ordinary water, nor may it said to be even on the level of holy water at the moment of its use, but instead, in a mystical way, this water achieves a special union with Divine grace, and is therefore, a level all of its own.
This water is not simply a sacramental, but the source of a Sacrament. Let us quickly recall the difference between the two. Sacramentals work ex opere operantis - by the work of the worker - while the Sacraments work ex opere opero - by the work being worked. A sacramental depends on the disposition of the one using it to confer grace, but a Sacrament will make present its graces regardless of the disposition of the worker. Rightly may we apply the Entrance Antiphon to it, that it will be made strong and will not be moved, for nothing can stop the graces of a Sacrament from being present; only obstacles can be created to prevent one from benefiting from them.
Satan cannot help but flee, therefore, from the Sacraments; it is why he and the other demons put all of their energies into trying to prevent the Sacraments. They are powerless in face of the Sacraments, especially Baptism. The words of the canticle sung by the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea may rightly be applied to the demons when Baptism is conferred on a soul, "Thou [the Lord] didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them; they [the Egyptians] sank as lead in the mighty waters. . . . Thou didst stretch out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them (Exodus 15:10, 12)." The dominion of sin and death over a soul washed in the Sacrament of Baptism is completely and utterly destroyed!
This water does not only cleanse, though, it also confers. It gives the virtues of faith, hope, and charity to the soul. It brings him or her to new life. It enlightens and strengthens. In short, through the water of Baptism, the Trinity flows into the soul and is made present in the heart of the believer. Rightly, therefore, is Baptism called, "the water of wisdom," by the Entrance Antiphon, for the Trinity made present in the soul is a source of enlightenment of the Divine Mysteries, and thus we may become wise, "For the LORD gives wisdom (Proverbs 2:6)."
The final words of the Entrance Antiphon speak of grace raising the soul up to life for ever. The waters of Baptism give a new life to the soul, and if the soul remains free from sin, it will persevere in that life forever. Nevertheless, it is necessary to constantly return to the stream of grace for strength and cleansing, just as it is necessary to constantly return to physical water in order to maintain health of body. For this reason, again, we have renewed our Baptismal Promises, so that we may recall the life we were born into and which we want to live in.
Throughout the rest of this Octave, and throughout the entire Easter Season, and even the rest of our short earthly lives, let us then always beg the Lord to continue to flood our souls with those original graces He bestowed on us at our Baptism. May we be forever firm in His ways, and may we grow ever closer to Him, so that, when this short life is over, we may pass through death to eternal life with Him, as the waters of Baptism gave us a foretaste of.
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