Belonging to Jesus through the Gift of Baptism

We all have a desire of belonging to something. Today, as we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we can think about this concept of belonging. Baptism is the sacrament by which we belong as members of the Church. There is an implicit awareness of this in many families who continue with the tradition of baptism, even though they may not attend church assiduously. As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, we should ask ourselves about our own sense of belonging. I think the example of the man without a country can help us.

The Man Without a Country

Edward Everett Hale wrote the short story “The Man Without a Country.” In it, he tells the story of a U.S. army lieutenant, Philip Nolan, who is tried as an accomplice to treason. He had been associated with Aaron Burr, the third vice president of the United States who had fallen into disfavor. During his testimony, Nolan renounces his US citizenship. This shocks the judge, who decides to sentence him to a life as a “man without a country.”

The judge exiles him to U.S. Navy warships, with the strict order that he should never hear news of his homeland again. When he is dying, one of the officers tours his room. He has painted a bald eagle on the ceiling of his cabin and drawn an outdated map of the US on the wall. The officer shares with him the history of the United States since his exile in 1807, while omitting the details of the Civil War.

Belonging, Belief, and Behavior

Some sociologists of religion see belonging as a core concept, alongside the concepts of belief and behavior. In this framework, belonging is important, but not everything. For us, as Catholics, belief is also vitally important, as is our behavior. When we look at the encounters that Jesus has in the Gospel, we see that he often leads with belonging but moves rapidly to belief and behavior. When he encounters Mary Magdalene, the first thing that he does is to make sure that she knows she belongs. Quickly, however, he brings her into a community of faith so that her belief can grow and her behavior can change.

Baptism of Repentance

During his ministry, John the Baptist was baptizing with a “baptism of repentance.” Men and women were coming from Jerusalem to embark on a path of interior conversion. Jesus participates, even though he has no need of repentance. He chooses to belong because his belief and behavior already go much deeper than the other adherents of John the Baptist.

We belong to Jesus. This is part of what we celebrate in our baptism. The priest or deacon pours water over our heads and pronounces the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” And in an instant, we belong to God. But what does this “belonging to God” mean? How well do we live it out?

Belonging Brings Relief and Safety

Belonging to Jesus should give us a deep sense of relief and safety. We belong to the one who is all-powerful. Even though he is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, he chooses to care about each one of us. Belonging to Jesus means that he commits himself to us in a special way. We are called to grow in our faith, in our belief. We cannot claim to belong to Jesus but then try to live our lives as if he does not exist or as if he does not demand anything of us. Belonging to Jesus invites us to transform our behavior. If we belong to Jesus, he has a right to a say in what we do.

We receive so much from our own baptism. It makes us participants in the divine life and members of the Church. Baptism erases original sin from our souls. It introduces us to the life of grace. These are all special blessings which call us to respond with behavior. We see it in the lives of the disciples and in the lives of all the saints.

Belonging to Jesus satisfies our deep desire to belong. One thing that has stuck out to me from my time at Duke thus far is how many people dress in Duke gear as often as possible. This speaks to a desire to belong and an identification with the community here. When people join a fraternity, they show that same desire of belonging. It is a manifestation of that desire which is engraved on our souls.

Desire to Belong

We all have a desire to belong. Some groups allow a sense of belonging without much demand of a change in belief or behavior. It is different for us as Catholics. We are called to believe and to behave in accord with our identity as Christians. Jesus has paid for us with his own blood; it is up to us to respond by totally giving of ourselves.

In the story of “the man without a country,” it is clear that the lieutenant regretted his earlier renunciation of his own country. His beliefs and his behaviors grew deeper as he went through life, to the point that at his death those around him could recognize his desire to belong. Does our behavior reflect our beliefs and our belonging? We cannot be partly for Jesus. We are called to belong to him completely.

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