by Deacon James Baker

I used to be a State Brand Inspector for the ND Stockman’s Association.  The brand inspectors’ job was to make sure the person selling an animal owned the animal, cow calf, horse, Bull, Steer, Heifer etc.….  They trained me to read the brands on all types of bovines and horses in our training and during inspection sometimes I would have to wrangle, or hog tie the Bovine to the fence and clip the hair to be able to read the brand correctly.  The Stockman’s Association keeps track of all the ownership of every registered brand in North Dakota.  

How does this relate to Baptism?  Baptism is an ownership mark.  Though invisible to the human eye, it is there (from the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1272) incorporated into Christ by Baptism.  The person baptized is configured to Christ.  Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing fruits of salvation.  Given once for all,  Baptism cannot be repeated.  Not like cattle or horses which can be branded and rebranded.  I remember one cow with six different brands on her.  Our mark is given once!  The Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord.  Christ has claimed you through baptism, we become his adopted Brothers and Sisters.  It is a mark on the person that all of creation knows, both good and evil.  

Baptism grace is the forgiveness of original sin (Adam and Eve) the promise of Eternal Salvation.  Baptism not only purifies us but makes us a new creature.  An adopted son of God.  The Most Holy Trinity gives the Baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification.  Enabling them to believe in God, to hope in him and to love him.  It also gives us the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  Not at all like the hot iron brand.  This mark cannot be sold or removed.  This mark allows us to grow in Goodness.  The whole organism of the Christian’s Supernatural life has its roots in Baptism.  Through Baptism God claims you as his.  Jesus who becomes our brother through baptism, wishes for us to receive the blessings from the Father.

From Luke Chapter 3:16 After Jesus’s baptism, God speaks directly to his son, “You are my beloved son whom I am well pleased.”  In all the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, this is the only time that God speaks directly to his son.  If Jesus is God, why did he need to be baptized?  Because Jesus our brother shows us that the way to salvation is through Baptism.  Through your baptism grace you too can hear God speaking to you!