Today is a day of water and fire. Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus.
First of all, water.
According to the USCG, an official website of the United States Government:
“Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. According to H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.”
Water serves a number of essential functions. Water is a vital nutrient to the life of every cell, it acts first as a building material. Water regulates our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration. The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream. It assists in flushing waste. It acts as a shock absorber for the brain, spinal cord, and fetus. It forms saliva. It lubricates joints. (paragraph paraphrased from https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-you-water-and-human-body )
We use water to shower, to stay clean, to wash our dishes, to wash our clothes. Therefore water also cleanses.
Water also heals. How often have you had a cut in the summer and because you are spending so much time on the beach and in and out of salt water it heals quickly?
So water is refreshing, it heals, it nourishes, it regulates, it transports, it cleanses, it acts as a shock absorber, it lubricates… and on and on and on…
Now, let’s move on to our second notion… ice… aha… a Canadian can’t talk about water without talking about ice… what would life be without ice: without hockey, skating, without ice in your drink, without snow, skiing, snowboarding and so on. Water and ice.
Now, fire. Speaking of the cold, skiing, skating and hockey, there's nothing like coming in after playing hockey and being by the fire, or skiing and coming into the lodge where there is a warm fireplace. Fire warms us, it heats our water, our homes, our food through our stoves. it also can mold things like steel, silver, and gold. It also purifies, “gold is purified in fire”. The sun is fire. The fire of the sun gives life, we can see during the day thanks to the fire of the sun and it provides us with solar energy.
So fire heats, molds, purifies, gives life, light, provides energy, etc.
Why all this talk about water and fire? Today Jesus is immersed in water and John the Baptist says, “he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Through baptism comes all of the characteristics of water, but for our soul. It refreshes, it heals, it nourishes, it regulates, it transports, it cleanses, it acts as a shock absorber, it lubricates… and on and on and on. Through baptism comes also all of the characteristics of fire: heat, energy, life, molding, purifying, light, etc.
Today, let us renew the gift of our baptism, the gift of the water and fire of the Spirit. Let us ask for the gift and grace of these characteristics of water and fire for our hearts, our minds, our being, our souls. If you feel that your heart is not on fire, ask the Holy Spirit for this gift.
It’s always hard to quote someone from Siena when we are in Florence, but there’s a great quote from St. Catherine of Siena: “If you are what you should be you will set the whole world on fire.” Today let us ask God to make our souls more and more the way they should be, with the characteristics of water and fire.
Have a wonderful week! If you need anything, never hesitate to ask me.
God bless you and your loved ones, Fr. Kramer Cameron, LC
Beautiful homily!