Finding Nemo (in the Sacrament of Baptism)

What was the Matter?

The matter in Baptism is holy water and the immersion or pouring. There is a prayer said over the water which is called the exorcism prayer. Ancient Christians thought of the water as the dwelling place of the great leviathan, a serpent that lurked in the waters depths. This is the same serpent as the serpent in Genesis 3. The devil fights to retain his claim on the soul as the recipient of Baptism is plunged (Baptizein) into the water and then raised three times. With the form for Baptism being spoken aloud by the minister, the soul of the baptized is completely claimed for Christ in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Water in the ancient world was a sign of life and death and cleansing. Without it one cannot live, where ever there is water there is life. Water was also a sign of death. The story of the great flood in Noah’s time illustrates the three signs well. Water as death to those outside the ark and it provided life to those in the ark. Through the flood the world was cleansed or purged of evil. All three signs play a role in Baptism.

Preparations

Before the water rite the chest of the recipient is anointed with the oil of warriors called the oil of catechumens. Like an armored breastplate, this anointing is a strengthening and preparation to enter into the battle of life and death which awaits him or her in the water rite. Like a boxer, any blows glance of the well-oiled fighter. Like an ancient warrior, any wounds are immediately treated with the oil to stem the bleeding. This protective anointing is appropriate when we consider the theology of the water rite.

The Plunge into Water

As we can see in Romans 6:3-5 the water rite is about life and death…"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection".

As we enter into the great Kairos event of the paschal mystery we too die to an old self and are born to a new self. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”(Rm 6:6-8). We enter into the tomb of the Baptismal font and emerged from the womb of the baptismal font born to new life.

We are Now 'Little Fish'

These new born Christians emerging from the Church’s womb can be thought of as little fish resembling Jesus the ICHTHYS (Greek for fish). As early church father Tertullian taught, “But we, little fishes, after the example of our Ichthys Jesus Christ, are born in water, nor have we safety in any other way than by permanently abiding in water; so that most monstrous creature, who had no right to teach even sound doctrine, knew full well how to kill the little fishes, by taking them away from the water!”. To relate this to a visual image I recall the recent Pixar classic ‘Finding Nemo’.

There is a scene in which all the little fish come together for protection to form the image of a larger fish. I think this is a suitable allegory of the Church as Body of Christ. This also points to Marlin and Dory's encounter with the whale: he journey into the whale's belly is like descending into the depths, a perilous but transformative experience. Inside the whale, Marlin's faith is tested. He must "let go and let God," trusting Dory's advice to surrender to the mysterious process. His surrender is rewarded, and they are literally propelled forward to their destination by the whale, an act that can be interpreted as God's divine assistance. The pair are expelled from the whale's blowhole, like a new birth, delivering them exactly where they need to be to continue their journey.

We emerge from the water rite as a participant in the death and resurrection of Christ, as new creatures of Christ re-made in his image. We now have a royal status signified by the sacred chrism which is made in a sign of the cross on the ‘crown’ of our heads (foreheads). This expensive, sweet smelling oil is the type used for priests, and kings in the time of the ancient Israelites. We are clothed in a new white garment made pure by the blood of the Lamb signifying our status as spotless bride and residents of heaven. All are images from the book of Revelation.

Like the great patriarchs, we are given a new name, the name that God will call us by in heaven. This new name reminds us of a new covenant and new destiny that we have entered into. We are given a lighted candle to signify that we, as people of faith are called to be lights to the world after Christ the Light of the world. This illuminated existence helps us to navigate our new role as adopted, royal sons and daughters of God.

We can now dare to call God Father. We are told to pray unceasingly and with power and confidence to ask in his Name. In our baptismal priesthood (common priesthood) we can offer our sorrows, joys, work and time to God as a sacrifice. As priest we can offer our whole selves in union with Christ everyday but especially at Mass during the offertory. As prophet we are called to be a missionary and witness of the Gospel everywhere we go in words and deeds through faith, hope and love. This is what baptism does for us.