In our second reading today, we hear about Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, a Roman Centurion and Gentile, whom the Jews considered unclean. Peter hesitated at first, seeing him as a foreigner, a soldier, and a sinner. But Peter’s heart changed when he realized that God shows no partiality. He baptized Cornelius, bringing him into the faith.
Many of us can identify with Cornelius, feeling unworthy or flawed at times. A rabbi once explained that God spoke to Moses from a humble thorn bush to teach us that no place is without God’s presence. We are all candidates for holiness, no matter our imperfections. As Jesus said, He came to call sinners, not the righteous. It makes sense. Healthy people do not need a doctor, but the sick do.
Think of how Jesus called flawed individuals like Peter, who denied Him, and Paul, a former persecutor of the Church. He called Augustine, once a libertine, and Thomas Merton, a former playboy, to holiness. Despite their flaws, these people answered God’s call to grace, just as we are called at our baptism.
Baptism isn’t just a ritual; it carries privileges, obligations, and expectations. It defines us as followers of Christ, part of a community that, though imperfect, strives for love and compassion in a broken world. As we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, we are reminded of our own calling to live Christ-like lives, despite our shortcomings.
This brings to mind a true story shared by Fr. Brennan Manning, a Franciscan priest I knew, from his childhood during the Great Depression. A group of salesmen, rushing to catch a train at Grand Central, bumped into a blind boy selling apples. While the others kept going, one man stopped and apologized. He helped gather the apples from the floor, noticing a few bruised apples in the bunch. He then gave the boy five dollars, and said, “I’ve put the good apples back in your basket.” As he walked away, the boy asked, “Sir, are you Jesus?”
This question challenges us: When was the last time I did something Christ-like? Our baptism calls us to be Christ to others. We are part of a sinful community, always in need of grace, yet striving for love and life. In our weaknesses, Christ is our strength and hope.
As St. Paul reminds us, “In Christ Jesus, you are all children of God … there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. You are all one in Christ Jesus.” Baptism is not just a ceremony; it defines us and calls us to live as Christ did. When we do, the Father will declare with pride, “You are My child, whom I love. With you, I am well pleased.”
