Jesus’ baptism is a reminder of our need for the grace of baptism and the new life it brings. It is through our baptism that the Lord begins His saving work in us, bringing “out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness” (Isaiah 42:7). Jesus’ own baptism is a model for us for establishing divine life with the one who can free us from our addictions, compulsions, unhealthy attachments, and sin.
“Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?’ Jesus said to him in reply, ‘Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:13-17).
Like John the Baptist, we may be in awe, feeling unworthy and incredulous as we awaken to the meaning of our baptism and the great gift that it is for us—adoption as a child of God. Yet, the heavens were opened at the Jordan for all of us and have never closed, enabling God’s outpouring of grace whenever we ask for it in faith.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches the following about the gift of baptism:
“Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift…We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship.”
Working the first three of the Twelve Steps with a sponsor aligns us deeply with the spirit of baptism since it requires that we surrender to Jesus Christ, leave an old life for a new one, and turn our will and lives over to the care of God. These first three steps entail a spiritual journey of offering our entire selves to God as living sacrifices that are pleasing to Him.
Once we surrender, grace from the heavens continues to pour over us as we embark on our recovery journey and are reborn into new life. Like the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous describes, “As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow and the hereafter. We were reborn.”
As we call to mind Jesus’ own baptism, let us remember that Jesus entered the waters not because He needed cleansing, but because we do. He stepped into the dark prison of our addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments to set us free so that we might step into His light of healing and freedom.
In recovery, we come as we are to hear the same truth spoken over us that was spoken over Christ at his baptism: “You are my beloved child.” Our baptism is not a single moment from the past, but marks the beginning of an outpouring of grace offered to us each time we surrender and ask for God’s help as his children. Let us trust that the heavens remain open, that God’s unlimited grace is always available to us, and that our rebirth in Christ will continue, one day at a time.
Jenny T is an author, speaker, and Catholic life and business coach who integrates the Twelve Steps, Catholic spirituality, and personal development to support healing, clarity, and purposeful living. A grateful woman in recovery, she is the author of Every Day Is a New Day: A Story of Faith and serves in leadership and formation roles with Catholic in Recovery.